Cary is full of commercial options for the savvy shopper, from the ubiquitous big box to the plucky mom-and-pop.

But where does a shopper go when they want to find that special item to represent their faith, whatever it may be?

They go to a strip mall shop, a back case in a temple or the bursting aisles of a family grocery store.

In these diverse places Cary’s increasingly diverse devout can find those materials — from crosses to betel leaves — that give material representation to their spiritual faith.

Here’s a sampling of just a few of the stores selling religious items in Cary.

In His Name 312 W. Chatham St., Suite 103 Steve Kovacs never imagined he would be managing a store at 19. He also never imagined he would find a job so perfectly suited to his faith.

The Catholic-themed store just opened in the Chocolate Smiles shopping center in downtown Cary. Offering items like books and saint statues, the store is one of the only in the area offering specifically Catholic-themed items.

Books, music, pictures and other items are on display in the new store where business is starting off “slow but good.”

Shoppers who have stopped by are already happy that the store has moved to town.

“They have more of the saints and the Catholic prayers,”Jannett Ammons said as she left the store last week after purchasing a daily meditation book in Spanish for her mother.

Ammons, who has a Cuban background, was especially glad that the store offered Hispanic items.

Kovacs said that much of the area’s Catholic population is Hispanic and the store is keen to market to them. Kovacs said the store’s items range from 60 cent holy cards to an $800 statue of St. Joseph.

For more information call 439-3361 or visit inhisname.com.

LifeWay Christian Store 2450 Walnut St.

This Southern Baptist-based store in Cary’s Centrum Station is part of a large chain based in Tennessee.

At 10,000-square feet, the Centrum store is a large space offering everything from Christian-themed dishware to books to clothing.

Chris Johnston, manager of the Cary store, said LifeWay’s goal is “To help get God’s word to everyone.”

Customer Larry Murphy, perusing the store last week, said many of the store’s items specifically targeted to a certain audience — like a book called “Bible Lessons for Girls” — helped make religion personal for different groups. And that personalization of religion is what Johnston likes about his Baptist faith.

LifeWay offers a range of items from a pocket cross less than a dollar to a $200 custom leather bible.

Other items of interest: How about a pink “Princess Bible” for girls with a diamond-encrusted buckle closure?Or would a CD set of Johnny Cash reading the New Testament be more your taste?

For information call 859-7379 or visit lifewaystores.com.

Beth Shalom Jewish Temple 5713 Yates Mill Pond Road

Beth Shalom’s “gift shop” is actually a small glass case near the temple’s sanctuary.

Why did the temple feel it needed this gift shop? “They’re so few and far between,” Wendy Moryoussef, a temple office manager, said of places in the area to find authentic Jewish items.

Items like dreidles and shabbat candles or a mezuzah (pieces of parchment usually contained in a decorative cases inscribed with specified Hebrew verses).

The gift store is opened for regular times during holidays like Hannaukah and the rest of the time is opened upon request. There is also a catalogue on hand that people can browse through and order stuff from.

And of course the case has yarmulkes. Moryoussef’s own son bought a couple before he went away to college at UNC-Greensboro as a freshman this year.

Moryoussef said the physical items were important to “continue the traditions.”

For information call 858-7777 or visit bethshalomnc.org.

Triangle Indian Market 740 E. Chatham St. No. A

The Triangle Indian Market has carried religious items since it opened 12 years ago in the Chatham Square shopping Center.

It makes sense that the store would since many of the items used in Hindu religious ceremonies are food-based.

“We offer it to the deity,” worker Gita Mohan explained as she pulled out betel nuts and leaves that are offered to gods like the elephant-headed Ganesh in most Hindu homes.

The store also sells statues of Ganesh, which most Hindus keep in their home.

Every September the store has a Ganesh festival in which they sell lots of them, from $10 to $35. For information call 380-0350.