An exciting local food movement has been taking shape in Southern Pines during the past several years, and is part of the inspiration behind Susan and Steve Peters’ decision to recently open Southern Whey – a charming specialty shop selling cheese, meat and other foodstuff – on the corner of NE Broad Street and New Hampshire Avenue in downtown Southern Pines.
Today we’re talking with Susan, shop-owner and Southern Pines native, as well as two local suppliers to Southern Whey: Hunter Stovall of Paradox Farm and Michael Miller with Southern Salmon.
After moving back to Southern Pines from Manhattan, Susan and her husband, Steve, dreamt of opening a business that would engage their local community, and mused about the corner bodegas found throughout New York City. And they were especially excited by the idea of creating a venue for food artisans who think “local” to bring their goods to market year-round.
Hunter Stovall, a local attorney, and his wife Sue, a local physical therapist, own Paradox Farm in West End. In April of this year they completed work on their dairy and received certification to sell local, fresh and ripened goat cheese. Cheese Louise!, the Stovalls’ fresh Chevre, has developed a cult following in Southern Pines and is available at Southern Whey.
Recently relocated to Southern Pines with his wife, Madeline, Michael Miller was born in Washington state and grew up on a small island outside of Seattle. He was raised on fresh seafood, especially freshly smoked salmon, and has been marinating and smoking salmon for more than 20 years. The salmon is wild-caught off the Canadian coast and will be available fresh and never frozen at Southern Whey.
Category Archives: Moore County
The Village of Pinehurst Local Business Community
With the fall and holiday season upon us we had the opportunity to visit with some of the Village of Pinehurst shop owners to discuss their retail presence, the charm of the Village stores and many upcoming events in the downtown area of Pinehurst. Shopping Local is one of the best things we can do in Moore County.
Gracie Foil started Choose Local MC (www.ChooseLocalMC.com) after researching the benefits of Supporting Your Local Community. She has lived in Moore County all of her life. She has a passion to keep Moore County unique with its small town charm and believes that it is our local businesses that help to make all of Moore County’s commerce areas economically strong for future generations.
Marian Caso, owner of Lady Bedford’s Tea Parlour & Gift Shoppe, (www.ladybedford.com) moved here 8 years ago from San Jose, California after a 30 year career in the legal field. Her dream had always been to open a tearoom and she opened Lady Bedford’s in the Village of Pinehurst 4 years ago. It is now the #1 tearoom in North Carolina according to teamap.com. She is the current President of the Pinehurst Business Guild. www.Pinehurstbusinessguild.com
Carole Boxell, is the owner of The Village Fox Boutique (www.thevillagefox.com) located in the historical Theatre Building in the Village of Pinehurst. She made a decision to open the store in March a year ago as a result of an ongoing passion for shopping and fashion. After spending a lot of time over the 2 years prior, she could not resist the quaintness of the village and felt it would be the perfect place to start this venture. The Village Fox carries contemporary womens’ clothing and accessories for a wide range of ages.
For the last 20 years, Cristin Bennett has dreamed of owning her own business…in Pinehurst. She and her husband Bill, would visit Pinehurst often to play golf, shop and just enjoy the village. In 2005, they purchased a condo in Pinehurst as a second home. In 2007, they joined Forest Creek Country Club. Cristin is looking forward to building their home, which she has designed.
So….in October of 2011, banking on the chance that the economy was on the way to recovery, they decided to GO FOR IT! They put their Greensboro home on the market, moved into the Pinehurst condo. Tesoro Home Decor & Gifts (www.tesorodecor.com) opened on March 2, 2012. The business is aimed at consumers who look beyond the chain stores for a customized look for their home, or a gift for someone special.
Many of their products are “one of a kind” items that are re-purposed from former lives, and many are made right here in North Carolina.
Tesoro Decor & Gifts is located in the space formerly occupied by Teramasu, just above Cool Sweats.
Habitat for Humanity & Family Promise – A Hand Up… not a Hand Out
Affordable housing issues Moore County residents face is the topic of discussion on All Things Moore County hosted by Bill Sahadi on local radio station WEEB 990 AM. Local activists Ken Rahall, Karen Hieronymous, Family Promise Executive Director Susan Bellew, Habitat for Humanity of the NC Sandhills Executive Director Elizabeth Cox and future Habitat homeowner Victoria Lopez talk about the issues of homelessness and lack of affordable housing for most low-income families.
After a divorce, Victoria Lopez, mother of six, found her family homeless and in need of the support and assistance of many agencies for the first time. She discusses the impact of these changes and her family’s desire for a hand-up, not a hand-out.
The show presents programs available for homeless families, those in need of repairs to remain in their homes and those families who would qualify for home ownership through programs like Habitat.
To learn more about Family Promise of Moore County or the upcoming Harvest the Promise fundraiser on October 11th at the Fair Barn, contact Susan Bellew at 944-7149 or susan.familypromise@gmail.com. To learn more about Habitat for Humanity or the upcoming golf tournament, Swings for Homes, on October 15th at Pinehurst No. 8, contact Elizabeth Cox at 295-1934 or www.sandhillshabitat.org. You can volunteer at either organization, or participate in an upcoming repair blitz in northern Moore County on November 3 by calling the Habitat office at 295-1934 and leaving a message for Karen. Both skilled and unskilled workers are needed to help repair homes that day.
INVESTING IN BUSINESS – EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS
Patrick Coughlin, the Moore County Chamber of Commerce President, and First Bank’s Andrew Lyons, the Chamber’s Vice Chairman of Community Development and President of the Public Education Foundation discuss Leadership initiatives by the Chamber under their guidance. Some of the programs discussed are Junior Achievement, the Educator Leadership Institute, connecting academics to practical application, and the upcoming November fundraiser, “Are you smarter than a Moore County School’s 5th grader?, which supports the Public Education Foundation for our local teachers. As our world continues to change at a frenetic pace, the discussion of these initiatives as a community based directive gives our local students, work force and citizens a chance to prepare for the changes in our local and global work environment.
BARRON TILE & STONE – JAMES & ADRIANNE BOYD
Originally known as Seven Lakes Tile, owners James and Adrianne Boyd of Barron Tile & Stone, www.barrontile.net, 910 673-3884 discuss their journey to Moore County in 1997 and the nature and scope of their well known business. Their business is referral based and their roots have grown deep in Moore County. They offer many tips for remodeling, prepping your home to sell, and share some of their personal, professional and family stories. Their 9500 sq.’ office & showroom complex, which also features LA Cabinets, is arguably Moore County’s finest tile and kitchen cabinet showcase.