Greater Fayetteville Business Journal - September 8, 2023 Issue

$750+ in tourism dollars spent Page 16

For sisters Cara Spencer, Janene Aul and Jacqueline Smith, who are the driving force behind the revamped Woodlake Country Club located in Vass, the motivation to redirect the property’s narrative is not only ambitious, but also a personal one.

Spencer, Aul and Smith grew up spending their summers at the lake skiing and tubing where their father owned a second home.

PHOTO PULLED FROM WOODLAKETODAY.COM

Aerial shot of Oates House and Woodlake on the Woodlake Country Club property before renovations.

Putting with pride

GOLF GRIPS MANUFACTURED IN MOORE COUNTY ARE A TOP CHOICE AMONG PLAYERS

Moore County has a lot to offer visitors and residents alike, but it is most well known for being a hot spot for golf. Players of all levels and from all over the world travel to play on these legendary courses and compete in high profile tournaments.

Nestled within this golfers’ paradise is Pinehurst-based Golf Pride, an innovative and influential golf grip manufacturer.

President James Ledford, who has been with Golf Pride for 11 years, shared additional details about the history, purpose and priorities of the company.

Golf Pride is owned by Eaton Corporation. Their business is global, but their presence in Pinehurst allows them to connect in person with the players.

“There’s about 20,000 golfers from around the world that come to Pinehurst to play Pinehurst No. 8 and so not only are we seeing local Pinehurst golfers, but we’re seeing golfers from all over the place come through here. So we kind of tap into the world of golf a little bit…that’s what it feels like to be a golf company here in Pinehurst, you just kind of can touch the world of golf in this tiny little town, which is really unusual. It’s pretty cool,” remarked Ledford.

Additionally, they’ve got their Global Innovation Center in Pinehurst where customers can come and get a glimpse at the science behind the grip making process.

“It’s a custom designed 36,000 square foot space for innovation and we did that in partnership with Pinehurst Resort. So we have this innovation center [that] sits inside the gates of Pinehurst No. 8 and we have about 50 employees here working on either innovation or kind of global supply chain planning. Then, at the very front of the innovation center, we have essentially what we call a ‘Retail Lab.’ It’s like a grip shop. We call it the Retail Lab because we’re learning how to sell and install grips better, but that’s open to the public Monday through Friday. Anybody can come in and see us,” shared Ledford.

Employees in the Global Innovation Center are responsible for various specialities such as chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, process engineering, industrial design, graphic design, marketing and consumer research.

While manufacturing golf

grips may seem like a niche industry, a variety of skill sets and personalities are needed to get the job done.

Golf Pride sells grips to both golf club manufacturers and individual players. Ledford shared that how often someone plays affects how often their grips need to be replaced, but most avid golfers replace their grips about once a year as they get ready for the new season.

The design of the grips vary in texture, size and style. Prices of the grips range from about $5.50 to about $14.

In the spirit of innovation, the company always has something new in the works.

“Right now, launching like this week, we have a new grip and glove collaborative design project that just hit the market. There’s a really cool kind of up and coming glove brand that’s based out of Salt Lake City and we did a design collaboration with them where the grips and the gloves were designed together and those are just starting to hit the market now. So it’s a company called ASHER and it was one of our first ever design collaborations…So it’s kind of a new territory for us to

explore. Really excited about that,” stated Ledford.

In addition to this exciting collaboration, Golf Pride is working on a new product that they plan to launch just in time for the next season.

“We’ve also been putting the finishing touches on our new product that will launch in the spring, so that’ll get announced in a couple of months. That’s where a lot of our energy is going to right now, we launch a pretty big new grip innovation to the market, every kind of late winter, early spring, so we’re putting the finishing touches on that,” added Ledford.

Novices and professionals alike are invited out to Pinehurst to check out Golf Pride’s Global Innovation Center and “explore the world of grips in a way that they haven’t seen [before].”

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY GOLF PRIDE

The Retail Lab in Golf Pride’s state-of-the-art Global Innovation Center opened in April of this year. It is open to the public Monday through Friday.

The Retail Lab is located at 15 Centennial Blvd. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

So we kind of tap into the world of golf a little bit…that’s what it feels like to be a golf company here in Pinehurst, you just kind of can touch the world of golf in this tiny little town, which is really unusual. It’s pretty cool.”

— James Ledford Golf Pride President

4424 Bragg Blvd, Fayetteville, NC 28303

910-240-9697

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Suet Lee-Growney

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The Greater Fayetteville Business Journal is published twice a month throughout Fayetteville and the Cumberland County region. News related to the region’s business sector is posted daily at bizfayetteville.com.

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Do what you’ve got to do

Sometimes, you’ve just got to wash your face with cold water.

I know what you’re thinking, dear reader, ‘What does this thinly veiled metaphor mean?’

Allow me to explain.

A few years ago, I took up a skin care routine that has yet to let me down. I’ve managed to keep up this skin care routine pretty religiously and with it, have seen the benefits of routine skincare. -I can already feel the men reading starting to trail off.However, this didn’t come without sacrifice. My bathroom sink at home enjoys playing temperature roulette. Sometimes, it is merciful and other times, you would think that there was a block of ice under my sink, keeping the water at six degrees Fahrenheit no matter how long you run it.

And sometimes, you arrive home late and just want to get your mascara off so you don’t wake up with your eyes sealed shut. So what do you do? You pray that you learned something from the Disney movie Frozen and hope that the cold won’t bother you anyway and wash your face.

At the end of August I celebrated my 28th birthday and with it, came to the somber acceptance that sometimes, life is filled with uncomfortable situations. Sometimes you have to make that business or life decision that doesn’t feel good at first, like firing a bad worker, or choosing to invest profits into a facility upgrade instead of saving them or even washing your face in freezing cold water.

Sometimes a decision that doesn’t feel great in the present will have a

surprising amount of payoff in the long run. Sometimes it’s good to get out of that comfort zone and just do what you need to do.

I hope you, dear reader, are empowered to handle your business the way that only you can and remember that being uncomfortable now can lead to great growth later!

I also hope that you enjoy this issue featuring the current goings on in Moore County, the ‘Home of American Golf’ has a lot of new developments and offerings we here at the GFBJ have had the pleasure of discovering just for you!

Mission accomplished

MOORE COUNTY AIRPORT COMPLETES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN RUNWAY RENOVATION PROJECTS AFTER A YEAR IN PROGRESS

The Moore County Airport team is celebrating a job well done after nearly completing their Runway Rehabilitation Projects which have been underway since January 2023.

The full project, aimed at improving the runways and taxiways from regular wear and tear, had a price tag of about $1 million, which Airport Director Ron Maness shared was paid for by the Division of Aviation.

“The Division of Aviation here in North Carolina is periodically going to general aviation airports and looking at runway conditions, and they’re funding improvements,” said Maness. “In our particular situation the runway hadn't been improved or worked on for several years and over time, you get cracks that come into the cement or the asphalt. So we had a company come in, they filled the cracks and then went and resurfaced the runway with a coating and then after that was set, they went in and repainted all our runway markings, so it looks like a brand new runway.”

Phase 1 of the project, which spanned from January to July, focused on Taxiways and other added infrastructure for the airport.

“Another big project we completed was a taxilane and taxi road and access to our hangars with infrastructure to expand our hangars. That was funded by the Department of Transportation under their Strategic Transportation Initiative. That was a $4 million project that’s been completed,” said Maness.

He also added that the Airport also built 17 new hangars which were completely occupied the day they were completed, another $4.2 million addition approved by the Airport Authority to help meet the high demand seen for Moore County. Along the same goal, the Airport also purchased a 10,000 square-foot hangar from a private owner for a total of $1.3 million to further meet demand.

Maness shared that the Moore County Airport also received an undisclosed grant that allowed for the construction of another 10,000 square foot hangar.

Additionally, the Airport will be finishing up a new lighting project which involves replacing the entire lighting system for the Airport with

LED lighting, a change that Maness shared will be a very important runway safety improvement for pilots and improve the cost of utilities. The LED light improvement project is expected to be completed by mid-September.

All of these improvements are wrapping up right in time to greet guests for the upcoming U.S. Open Championship taking place in Pinehurst in 2024, an event that is sure to bring plenty of travelers to the area which Maness said the Airport is now better prepared to handle with the inclusion of a temporary air traffic

control tower scheduled to be in place to handle thousands of flights.

“What I’m describing is a heck of a lot of activity in the last 12 or 14 months, a lot of significant infrastructure improvements. We’re looking at the U.S. Open in 2024, that’s staring us down and getting closer every day,’ shared Maness. “The last two Opens here in 2005 and 2014, we had well over 2,000 flights in five days. We are an uncontrolled airport, so we need temporary air traffic control to handle that kind of volume and we’ve already got that in place.”

As the renovation projects continue to wrap up, Maness shared that the Airport is also preparing to welcome guests well before the 2024 U.S. Open Championship with the upcoming 2023 Festival D’Avion currently scheduled to take place on Oct. 28.

“It’s a huge event for anybody in the area. The Golden Knights will be here jumping, we’ll have Army helicopters, skydiving, airplane rides, all kinds of static displays and fly bys for our guests and last time around we approached 10,000 guests for that event,” shared Maness.

The Moore County Airport is more than ready to help guests on the ground or in the sky. You can learn more about airport operations and updates on this year’s Festival D’Avion at www.moorecountyairport.com.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MOORE COUNTY AIRPORT

The renovation included repairing the taxiways and runway from general wear and tear, along with the construction of 17 new hangars to help with plane storage.

“What I’m describing is a heck of a lot of activity in the last 12 or 14 months, a lot of significant infrastructure improvements. We’re looking at the U.S. Open in 2024, that’s staring us down and getting closer every day,” shared Maness.

Creating More Inclusive Communities

ServiceSource is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to facilitate services, resources and partnerships to support people with disabilities and others we serve, along with their families, their caregivers and community members, in order to build more inclusive communities.

Serving North Carolina for over 20 years

Serving 45 counties in NC

NC Regional Office in Fayetteville, NC

Job Placement Services

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Community Inclusion Day Program

For more information on resources or to donate, visit www.servicesource.org or call 910-826-4699

600 Ames St. Fayetteville, NC 28301

A pre-existing medical condition and subsequent medication caused Kristen to gain a large amount of weight. She tried diets and exercise but the scale never moved much.

Ready to take charge of her health, Kristen decided to have gastric sleeve surgery at Cape Fear Valley. Just one year later, she is down 70 pounds and is back to enjoying her childhood love of horseback riding.

From gastric sleeve to bypass surgery and beyond, Cape Fear Valley’s bariatric team is here to walk you through your weight loss journey.

To learn more about our bariatric program, visit capefearvalley.com/bariatric or call (910) 615-BARI(2274).

Gastric sleeve surgery was the tool I needed to be successful in my weight loss journey.”

– Kristen, Gastric Sleeve Patient

>> By Suet Lee-Growney

From WOODLAKE, page 1

“We celebrated birthdays out there; we brought friend groups out there,” Aul, principal of Woodlake Country Club, said. “It had a special meaning for us. Growing up, it was a place we could go and have fun on the lake with our friends — and it's only 35 minutes outside of Fayetteville.”

Spencer, Aul and Smith’s father was initially part of the homeowners group who tried to improve the property. However, according to Aul, the organization began neglecting the property and did not make proper repairs to the dam as required by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Aul's role in the relaunch of the club is to tackle the legal aspect of leases and contracts.

“During Hurricane Matthew, the DEQ came in and breached the dam because the ownership group had not made the requested or required repairs to the dam,” she said. “That's how the lake ended up drained; it was never repaired. And then the property just kind of went downhill from there.”

The sisters had to wrangle and untangle several legal issues to get the club, dam and golf course up and running again.

“The homeowners ended up winning about $165 million judgment against the ownership group and a lot of liens on the property,” Aul said. “My dad was involved in all of that and lawsuits with the homeowners. We ended up acquiring the property through foreclosure of one of the liens on the property.”

From there they’ve made progress beginning with reopening the community pool in May 2022, the breaking of ground to rebuild the dam earlier this year in July, the upcoming opening of the golf course sometime in late fall and the opening of the lake in spring of 2025.

The first initiative since the sisters took over the country club was the reopening of the community pool last summer.

“That was the first sign of good faith towards the community: to get the pool up and running, selling memberships and having that sort of country club aspect — that was what (the community) missed most,” shared Spencer, project manager of Woodlake Country Club. “The community residents were able to operate it with our permission the year that we transitioned and tried to gain ownership. The residents pulled together and opened the pool so we were able to take that over

and open the pool.”

While the sisters worked on a transition of ownership and reopening the pool, they have also been working on the golf course for over two years, which sat dormant for about seven years.

Woodlake’s golf course is set to open in the coming months and it is the most anticipated opening of the Woodlake community.

Once opened, it will be one of the top 25 golf courses in North Carolina, according to Spencer. The club is partnering with regional and national big names in the golfing world such as Bobby Jones Links to manage operations and the club, Kris Spence as the architect of the golf course, as well as Chris Dwiggins, Woodlake’s new superintendent. There will be changes and enhancements added to the previous course under Spence’s direction.

remarkable, the sisters’ aim is to set a new standard of affluence for country clubs in the area.

“I think the money was not being put into it to maintain it,” Aul said. “We really just want to take it to the next level; a luxury community with a lot of amenities.”

Membership level plans for the golf course will be published on the Woodlake Country Club’s new website, www.Woodlakecountryclubnc.com, which will be launched on Sept. 12. Along with the launch, they will debut the club’s new brand logo, masterplans, upcoming plans and other details. The launch of the website will be the first time the community will have access to Woodlake Country Club’s information on what to expect and when.

According to Aul, though the dam’s reconstruction had only recently begun, there were behind-the-

things that they didn't have in the old course.”

One of the amenities the sisters aim to bring back is the tennis courts, restoring the historical Oates House as the future community center of the community, opening up more restaurants, event spaces and offering some leasable commercial spaces for the community.

“We will have sort of a new, different 19-hole restaurant experience, an event lawn where we can host outdoor events and weddings in the future,” Smith said. “A little bit outside the Club, but for the community, we are taking an old sales office and we are constructing sort of a community center where the market and some leasable commercial spaces [will be].”

In regards to the lake, Woodlake aims to add more water amenities and access to attract non-residents to the lake.

“It is our goal to add additional docks and boat storage that will make it easier for some of the nonlake homeowners to store their boats and access the water and have more of a marina-type experience,” Smith said. “The facilities and amenities are geared towards the community of Woodlake, but for the first time we are going to open it up on a limited capacity to non-Woodlake residents.”

“To have an architect like Kris Spence behind us, it’s going to be a big thing in this community, especially the development that will follow,” Spencer said. “[He] really helped show us the vision of what the course could be and execute on that plan.”

To get the buzz going, Woodlake will be hosting sneak-peek plays and a VIP soft opening on the new Maples Course green. Additionally, the sisters are excited about having Dwiggins at Woodlake because of his previous experience at the Country Club of North Carolina (CCNC) in Pinehurst.

“Dwiggins is the one who has been driving the renovation of the golf course,” Aul said. “CCNC is a very prestigious one in the Pinehurst area, so it kind of brings that level of standard over to us.”

With this opportunity to turn a neglected project into something

scenes efforts that took two years to be executed from the time they took over in order for its projected opening in the spring of 2025 to happen. These endeavors include working with the state and private entities on permitting and design.

“I think everybody is getting very excited because it's becoming more of a physical construction,” Aul said. “And now they can start to see the progress.”

Smith, head of renovation and masterplan design of Woodlake Country Club, said they aspire to not only add to Woodlake community’s previous experience with the country club, but change the experience completely.

“Our long-term goal would be to have more facilities, maybe for a golf school and just continue to expand and grow our amenities in the next few years,” Smith said. “We are going to have fitness, pickleball,

Currently, the temporary clubhouse is located at the nicknamed “19-Hole Grill” restaurant, which will be opened later this year, before it moves to its more permanent location at the Oates House in the future. In the meantime, “19-Hole Grill” will offer indoor and outdoor dining with an event space as well as fire pits outside. Other food options are the snack shop by the community pool and grab-and-go offerings at the pro shop in September.

Woodlake will be offering memberships to anyone who is interested in having a second home on the lake.

“The facilities and amenities are geared towards the community of Woodlake, but for the first time we are going to open it up on a limited capacity to non-woodlake residents,” Smith said. “We are hoping to make this sort of a destination club in the future.”

As far as how the country club’s reopening will affect the community, Spencer has seen an uptick in landed property appraisals.

“We've seen real estate value increase substantially since all of this has been transpiring,” Spencer said. “That's been a benefit as well for the community.”

PHOTO PULLED FROM WOODLAKETODAY.COM

The Woodlake Country Club’s new Owners from Atlantic National Capital (from left to right:) Janene Allison Aul, Keith Allison, Cara Allison Spencer and Jacqueline Allison Smith.

ACHIEVERS

Rick Cloutier appointed new Moore County Airport Director

The Moore County Airport Authority has named RICK CLOUTIER from Idaho Falls, Idaho, as its new airport director effective Oct. 1.

Cloutier will replace current director Ron Maness, who is retiring in October.

Cloutier has had a career in airport management since 2006 in Maine, North Carolina and Idaho, where he has developed and executed operations and administration plans for the facilities.

He oversaw the management at the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport in Maine and later moved to the Concord Regional Airport in Concord, where he was instrumental in developing commercial air service. Most recently he was the airport director at the Idaho Falls Regional Airport, where he expanded commercial services and developed more than $150 million in airport grants for the facility.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to return to North Carolina and to have the opportunity to serve as director for the Moore County Airport,” said Cloutier in a press release. “The growth the airport has experienced in the past few years, coupled with the fact that the Pinehurst [area] has always been one of the elite golf destinations in the world, opens many opportunities for success for this airport and the community.”

In addition to his hands-on experience running airports, Cloutier has operated airport customer service centers and is familiar with the importance of customer service at resort destination airports.

He is an expert on Federal Aviation Administration procedures and holds eight different aeronautical certifications. His experience includes working with regional and national industry associations and is highly regarded by airport and aviation industry leaders.

“Rick is a superb choice to lead the Moore County Airport into the future,” said Mike Jones, chairman for the Moore County Airport Authority in a press release. “His industry knowledge and experience are well-suited to our vision and mission to be one of the best airports in the country. We have great confidence in his performance and high expectations for his future.”

Cloutier served for two decades

What are you and your peers achieving? Have you reached a new goal? Have you acquired another business? Maybe your business has a new hire you would like to highlight.

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal wants to hear from you and your business to shine a spotlight on your accomplishments.

To nominate someone for GFBJ’s Achievers section, email editor@bizfayetteville.com with the subject line “Achiever.”

in the U.S. Marines Corps worldwide as an aircraft mechanic. He is a graduate of the University of Maine, where he earned his degree in public administration.

Cloutier will be relocating to the Pinehurst area with his wife in October.

Cumberland County Planning & Inspections Chief Building Official elected to statewide association

Cumberland County Chief Building Official MIKE NAYLOR has been elected to serve as the Area 6 director for the North Carolina Building Inspector’s Association.

Village of Pinehurst Council appoints new member to fill vacant seat

During a special meeting on Monday, Aug. 21, the Village of Pinehurst Council members unanimously voted to appoint TOM HENNIE to fill the empty council seat after Jane Hogeman’s death in July.

In accordance with North Carolina law, the Village Council appointed Hennie to fill the vacant position on the Council to serve the remainder of Mrs. Hogeman’s term, which expires November 30, 2023.

The appointment came after interviews with three of the four applicants: Kevin Drum, Tom Hennie and Brandon Lankford. Applicant Brett Anthony was not available for an interview.

Hennie is a familiar face to the Village of Pinehurst as an active Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.) member with the Police Department.

Tom Hennie will take the oath of office and be seated as a Pinehurst Councilmember during their next meeting, Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 4:30

Naylor was nominated and elected by his peers to serve as Area 6 director. The N.C. Building Inspector’s Association is divided into geographic districts. Area 6 encompasses southeast North Carolina including Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Hoke, Jones, Lenior, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Robeson and Sampson counties.

As N.C. Building Inspectors Association Area 6 director, Naylor will serve as the lead representative voice in the region for promoting understanding, application and enforcement of the State building laws and regulations, assisting in the development of the building regulations and standards, increasing the level of professionalism and efficiency of the local building inspectors and more.

Naylor has worked for Cumberland County for 19 years and has a double master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling and Theology. Naylor is certified as an NC Level III Electrical Inspector, NC Level III Plumbing Inspector, NC Level II Mechanical Inspector, NC Level I Building Inspector and an NC Level II Fire

Inspector. He is also a graduate of the Cumberland County Leadership Academy.

Campbell University professional education professor named Fulbright Specialist Scholar

Campbell University’s School of Education and Human Sciences

Associate Professor of Professional Education DR. TERRIE HAMPTON-JONES has been awarded the prestigious designation of Fulbright Specialist Scholar for the next three years.

As a Fulbright Specialist, Hampton-Jones will travel overseas to share her expertise in instructional technology and lesson planning through digital literacy. She will lecture and host seminars and project-based learning workshops for teachers and education majors.

Annually, the U.S. Department of State and Bureau of Educational and Cultural Exchanges sponsor 400 Fulbright Specialists to participate in project-based exchanges in 160 host countries across the globe. Specialists, who represent a wide range of professional and academic disciplines, are competitively selected to join the Fulbright Specialist Roster based on their knowledge, skill sets and ability to contribute to projects overseas significantly. Those individuals approved to join the Fulbright Specialist Roster are then eligible to be matched with approved projects designed by foreign host institutions. Once abroad, Specialists partner with their host institution to conduct project activities supporting the host institution’s priorities and goals.

“I’m honored to be one of the 400 selected to represent the United States,” said Hampton-Jones in a press release. “We are a prestigious group of academics with specified skills, and it means a lot to me to be an ambassador representing skilled experts and professional educators in the U.S.”

“I have the Akatsi College of Education and Cape Coast University in Ghana as priorities on my list. I’m confident that my skills, innovative strategies of integrating technology and active learning mastery will be an added value wherever I share my knowledge.”

Dr. Hampton-Jones is Campbell University’s first African-American Fulbright Specialist.

p.m., in Assembly Hall at 395 Magnolia Road.

Naylor

Cloutier

Hampton-Jones

17555

Nighttime Could Be the Right Time to Save. With

PWC’s New Super Off-Peak Rate

On May 1, PWC introduced a new optional Whole Business rate that features significantly lower rates (more than 46% lower than our current Off-Peak rates) for electricity used during Super Off-Peak Hours, 9:00 PM – 5:00 AM daily, all year long. Business customers who sign up for this option pay a slightly higher basic facility charge and Peak rate, while benefiting from much lower rates during the nighttime hours. Your business may be able to lower your electric bills with this rate plan. Some of the ways you can save money with this plan include doing things like:

• Charging fleet-managed EVs, or providing managed EV charging for multi business/residential units, during Super-Off Peak hours

• Performing power-hungry tasks or running large machinery/ non-essential equipment between 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM

For more information, visit: FayPWC.com and click on the TOU Rates for Business in the business section of the website. Or call 910-483-1382 to speak with a PWC representative and learn how our new Whole Business electric rate may benefit your business.

Largest Employers - Moore County As ranked by NC Department of Commerce

The Fayetteville region continues to expand with residential, commercial and industrial real estate projects underway and on the horizon. On SEPT. 26, 2023, our panel will talk about the current real estate market and what to expect in the coming years.

26

Foodie Tours

WALKING AND TROLLEY TOURS HELP SHOWCASE RESTAURANTS THAT MAKE MOORE COUNTY MORE UNIQUE

Referred to as “the Home of American golf,” the Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen area is known for its luscious golf courses, relaxing vacation atmosphere and plenty of things to do for locals and visitors alike. Now, there is a company specifically designed to introduce guests to the tastes of some of the area's best restaurants.

Foodie Tours, a guided exploration of the area’s restaurant scene is here to help you discover the foods, drinks and restaurant staples that make up the Moore County culinary scene.

Launched in February of 2022, Foodie Tours Owner Victoria “Tori” Hypes and her partner Lin Hilton have partnered with more than 20 restaurants across Southern Pines, Aberdeen and Pinehurst to provide food tours to showcase the area’s culinary scene to an untapped audience.

“I thought it would be a really heavy market with the vacationers that play golf or you know, spouses of people that play golf and what I found starting the business is that, it’s 90 percent of locals that come on my tours, which is really incredible and even better for our local restaurants,” shared Hypes. “To tell them ‘Hey, these are locals that are coming and they’ve never eaten at your restaurant before and now they’re getting a chance to try it, and come back one day because they love it so much.’”

With themed tours available including a “Pizza trolley,” “Feed your Soul” and “Taste of the Holidays,” there is bound to be something for everyone to try.

Guests pay a flat rate per person that includes all the food and drinks predetermined by the tour and advertised to fill a normal dinner appetite. Tours consist of five to six stops varying from different restaurants, breweries and coffee shops, depending on the type of tour.

“We have partnerships with different restaurants that we’ll go to, and we’ll let them know that we’re coming beforehand. Or sometimes, we have to switch it up and just pop in on places. It’s a small town, so sometimes we’ll walk up to a door and it says ‘We’re closed’ and I’m

like, ‘Okay, we’re pivoting.’ So, definitely a lot of thinking on your feet sometimes and going with the flow,” said Hypes.

Foodie Tours partnered with the Sandhills Trolley Company early on to expand her territory and offerings.

“That’s been able to expand us quite a bit because [with] the walking tours, we’re pretty confined to downtown areas. But with the trolley tours, we’re able to expand more and get out to some of these other restaurants that maybe don’t see as much traffic or that just want more

visitors,” shared Hypes. “With the trolley tours, each individual one is planned just because they’re different themes. So, I will reach out to restaurants that I think would be appropriate for that tour and would like to participate. Back in July, we did Peach Week. I reached out to all the restaurants participating in Peach Week with the Visitors Bureau and basically, took on those that got back to me. We had quite a few amazing [restaurants] that participated which was really fun.”

Foodie Tours also offers a social club for foodies, a monthly subscription for locals to get to meet other foodies and participate in food-related activities such as brewery tours, tastings, mini-food tours and other specialty events. Hypes said she is open to partnering with more restaurants and possibly expanding to other small towns and cities in the future to keep the local aspect in focus.

“I’ve had quite a few restaurant owners say ‘I love this idea. This is an awesome idea like how did you come up with this?’ And food tours

exist in other places. I just wanted to bring them here to this small town or, people reach out to me to want to be on the tours,” said Hypes. “It’s just been really incredible. Our community is just so wonderful, they just want to see everybody succeed and I think that means a lot to me. I love the small town aspect of it. I love getting to know each individual restaurant owner, which I think we could do in a bigger town, but it would just be different. So I don’t know, we’ll see what comes of it.”

Tours are available on a first come, first serve basis with minimums for the amount of people per group. Currently tours are not able to accommodate food allergies, but Hypes shared that is something she would like to be able to cater to in the future.

Along with preparing for the fall season, Foodie Tours will also be going international with the company’s first international tour in Italy scheduled for March of 2024.

I love the small town aspect of it. I love getting to know each individual restaurant owner...”

— Victoria "Tori" Hypes Foodie Tours Owner

You can learn more about Foodie Tours and book your own tour at www.foodietoursnc.com.

PHOTOS TAKEN BY CARA MATHIS. PROVIDED BY FOODIE TOURS

Foodie Tours Owner Victoria ‘Tori’ Hypes (pictured left) said she enjoys keeping the focus on local businesses and restaurants and interacting with restaurant owners. Walking and trolley tours are available with different themes and different foods.

Tourism growth

MOORE COUNTY SURPASSES $750 MILLION IN VISITOR SPENDING FOR 2022

In 2022, Moore County witnessed an unprecedented $750 million in economic impact from visitor spending, an 11 percent increase from the previous year. Moore County remains the tenth highest tourism economy in the state, its highest ranking in history. The data comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and compiled by Tourism Economics in collaboration with U.S. Travel Association.

“Visitors to Moore County spent three quarters of a billion dollars here in 2022 and that’s an historic and amazing achievement for our destination that has no mountains and no beach, but is emerging as one of the hottest leisure destinations in North Carolina,” said Phil Werz, president and CEO of the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau in a press release. “While golf is king inside the ‘Home of American Golf’ and we’re about to host a U.S. Open next summer, we are also a unique destination when it comes being more than just golf, with fabulous options off the course as well such as dining, shopping, history, the arts, outdoor recreation and agritourism.”

Tourism impact highlights for 2022:

Moore County ranks tenth among 100 counties in North Carolina for annual visitor spending.

The tourism industry employs more than 5,600 people in Moore County, an increase of 2.6 percent from the previous year.

Tourism in Moore County saved each resident $512.13 in taxes. The state average was $230.35. The report also showed that $24.7 million in local taxes was derived from visitor spending in 2022.

State tax revenue generated by tourism in Moore County totaled $28.9 million, an increase from $28.1 million from 2021.

These statistics come from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2022.”

The report also provided visitor spending based on a variety of sectors. Overall, Moore County ranked no worse than 11th in the state in all of the areas including: Lodging ($192 million, ranked 11th and up 14 percent from 2021); Food and Beverage ($222.9 million, ranked 11th and up five percent from 2021); Recreation ($101.7 million, ranked 10th and up five percent from 2021); Retail ($63.6 million, ranked 10th and up six percent from 2021) and Transportation ($169.2 million,

ranked 11th and up 24 percent from 2021).

“These findings are something that everyone in North Carolina can celebrate,” said Visit NC Director Wit Tuttell in a press release. “They’re a testament to the resilience of our businesses and our residents and to the enduring appeal of destinations that include everything a traveler might want. The economic well-being of the state and all its communities rises with the pleasures travelers find in the natural beauty of our public spaces, our culinary traditions and innovation, our remarkable towns and our

spirited cities. North Carolina can claim it all.”

Total spending by domestic and international visitors in North Carolina reached $33.3 billion in 2022. That sum represents a 15.2 percent increase over 2021 expenditures. The figure falls 14 percent above the record $29.22 billion spent in 2019.

The statistical model is based on highly detailed North Carolina data provided by Visit NC as well as data derived from federal and state government sources, nationally known private and non-profit travel organizations and other travel industry sources.

The findings from the annual report are based on the 2022 calendar year. The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB concluded its 2022-23 fiscal year on June 30 with occupancy tax collections exceeding $3.2 million, an increase of six percent from the previous fiscal year.

COURTNEY COOK SSLLW METOE/UNSPLASH

The ‘Home of American Golf ’ saw an 11 percent increase in visitor spending from numbers reported in 2021.

Reader’s Guide

BizLeads is a collection of information gathered from greater Fayetteville courthouses, state government offices and information websites. The listings are intended to help the business community find new customers and stay on top of happenings with current customers, vendors and competitors.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Rose Custom Creations LLC

5075 Morganton RD STE 10C

Fayetteville

Agent: Eboni Nechole Johnson

Jeremiah's House

For Hope

1855 Gumber ry Ct.

Hope Mills

Agent: Jackie Marshall

ZOI Wellness LLC

2394 Riverchase

Fayetteville

Agent: Dawn Marie Holmes

Bubbly Fresh LLC

5681 Muscat Rd.

Hope Mills

Agent: Arim Mikar Murphy

Peachez N Cream LLC

113 Darby St

Fayetteville

Agent: Crystal Ann

Hultberg

C & J Transport Services LLC

880 John Nunnery Rd

Stedman

Agent: Christel Evans

Freight Flow Logistics LLC

5075 Morganton rd Suite 10c

Fayetteville

7466 Stoney Point Road

Fayetteville

Agent: Heather McManus

AT Home Investments LLC

374 Valley Road

Fayetteville

Agent: David Wells Alderman IV

BIZ LEADS

Cleaning From The Heart Cleaning Service LLC

16 Remines CT

Parkton Agent: Michela Bethea Glover

The Evidence Group Inc

5075 Morganton Rd Suite 10C

Fayetteville

Blue Lebanese

Krystal Express Inc.

5804 Boots Lane

Fayetteville Agent: Maurice

Douglas

JUNIPER & FERN TATTOO COMPANY LLC

300 LYMAN DR

Lane Wade

Agent: Janel F Lewis

Majestic Luxur y Locs LLC

101 Jaylin Blvd

Spring Lake

Agent: Shanice Phifer

Malik Hor ton Logistics Llc

8510 Car tman Drive

Fayetteville

Agent: Malik A Horton

Healing Touch

Child Care Center Inc

1411 Rim Rd

3221 Cragbur n Pl

Fayetteville Agent: Tiffany C DeJong

Zen and Love LLC

4211 Colby Ct. Apt 302

Agent: Alonzo Rogers

V illein City Smoke Shop LLC

530 Grove St

Fayetteville

Agent: Osamh Alsayedi

Patty Mays Sweet Cafe LLC

5843 Ramsey St

Fayetteville

Agent: Rising STAR Products LLC

New Path Logistics LLC

6912 Pine Creek Court

Fayetteville

Agent: Robin Jones

6616 BALDOON DR. FAYETTEVILLE NC 28314 LLC

5232 Heather St Hope Mills

Agent: Emisa Anderson

ASD Holdings LLC

2968 Cumber land Road

Fayetteville Agent: Viranda Deshields

Hawk Management LLC

1000 Belmont Ave

Fayetteville Agent: Daniel John Culliton

Southview Sanitation Servics Inc

National Fer tility Center LLC

750 Hay Street Apt #708

Fayetteville

Agent: Jerome Vincent Ponder

Al Real Estate & Insurance Brokerage LLC

671 Bar tons Landing Pl Apt 5

Fayetteville

Agent: Abdeslam

Mouabid

Set High Athletics LLC

2620 Bragg Blvd Ste D

Fayetteville

Agent: Beyah's Accounting & Tax Service LLC

Glorious Crown Natural Haircare LLC

5075 MORGANTON ROAD 10C

Fayetteville

Agent: Breaunda Quick

Elegant Expressions NC LLC

3622 Camson Road

Fayetteville Agent: Laura Beatrice Faircloth

Total Cleaning Services LLC

370 Legba Dr Apt H

Fayetteville

Agent: Wilnilda Cruz

Agent: Kelly Z

Goodman

SpeedyWizx LLC

1714 Lauren Cir

Spring Lake

Agent: Reginald

Leon Carner Jr

Handyman Heroes LLC

6113 Proverbs St

Linden

Agent: Thomas J

Salvail

Spencer Britt Holdings Inc

4645 S. Main Street

Hope Mills Agent: Rachel

Marie Spencer

Lighthouse Lear ning and Development LLC

6524 Valley Falls Rd.

Hope Mills

Agent: Ashlee

Garrison Russell

M.Ed.

Mar tin Mutts

Professional Pet Services LLC

1416 Mar lborough Rd.

Fayetteville Agent: Chanteyl

LeJoie Martin

The Writing Refinery L.L.C.

3775 Hear tpine Drive

Fayetteville

Agent: Karen E Atkins

Fayetteville Agent: KATIE BARBROW

A & C FLOOR DECOR INC

321 Dick St

Fayetteville Agent: Sherry Sinclair

Los Comales Express LLC

122 Glenola Street

Fayetteville Agent: Ramon

Jimenez

Haynesworth Auto Body Workx LLC

2692 Brigadoon Lane #E

Fayetteville Agent: Regina Carter

Loyalty Over Luv LLC

6311 Br ussels

Fayetteville Agent: DeAndre

Bullock

Intuitive Marketing Studios LLC

5075 Morganton Road STE 10C

Fayetteville Agent: LaQuavia

Camishe' Roseboro

Eye Envy Lash and Brows LLC

3915 Watford Way

Fayetteville

Agent: Donia

Leffew

J Frances Interiors LLC

5317 Anna Belle

Expediate Billing LLC

4516 Dominion Rd

Fayetteville Agent: Veronica McNair

MB360 Advisors LLC

3033 Stodder t

Fayetteville

Agent: Geoffrey Manderewicz

Keys with Kelsie LLC

234 T iverton Street

Fayetteville

Agent: Kelsie Rae

Foster

Divided Society LLC

1425 Cantrell Ct

Fayetteville

Agent: Jyson Letrell Poole

Boss & Gloss Mobile Detailing LLC

127 Education Dr

Spring Lake Agent: Ernest Houston II Wilburn II

E & J Custom Trim LLC

1229 Clayton Rd

Godwin

Agent: Jorge Eduardo Flores Melara

Car rera & Associates LLC

3905 Privateer Way Suite 201

Fayetteville

Agent: Marlene Shim

Fayetteville

Agent: Davina Lea Wharton

LifeSaving Connections PLLC

1813 Cozy Branch Rd.

Fayetteville Agent: Christina McAllister

D. D' S MASSAGE Incorporated

6002 Raeford Rd

Fayetteville Agent: Angkana Sihachack

Third Generation Holdings LLC

7341 Clinton Rd

Stedman

Agent: Emily J Jones

Carolina Cheer Elite LLC

5075 Morganton Road STE 10C

Fayetteville Agent: Octavis

Brown

Blast to the Past LLC

747 Goodyear Drive

Spring Lake Agent: Kyle White McNeill

Maynor Logistics LLC

5554 Trade Street

Hope Mills

Agent: Angus

JaMaal Maynor

Reclaim Massage Therapy and Bodywork LLC

Fayetteville Agent: Yazmyne LaKelle Avant

SEBAS TRANSPORT LLC

2020 WILLOWBRAE DRIVE

Fayetteville Agent: LOUIS E ANDRE

Thomas Mae Foundation

3932 Nikita Drive

Hope Mills

Agent: Aliza Newton

F ishBon3 LLC

6786 Cedar Creek Rd

Fayetteville

Agent: Lee Ann Hair

Er nest Specialists PLLC

2053 Valleygate Dr. 102

Fayetteville

Agent: Edward E Dickerson IV

Renewed Properties LLC.

3739 Camden Rd.

Fayetteville Agent: Wright

Douglas Gillies Jr.

Golden Trio LLC

5609 weatherford rd

Fayetteville Agent: Ashley peace

Intrepid Frontiers Inc.

528 Rempstone Ln

Fayetteville

Agent: Joshua Martin

New Corporations lists firms from the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal region that were recently incorporated in the State of North Carolina.

6TH ANNUAL

SCHOLARSHIP G LF TOURNAMENT

MANY THANKS TO THE 30 CORPORATE SPONSORS who led the way with their generosity in making Carolina College of Biblical Studies’ 6th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament our most successful ever.

Our goal of raising $49,000 for scholarships was far exceeded. The scholarships will be awarded to dozens of deserving students to be trained and equipped with God’s Word to fulfill His calling in their lives and ministries locally, nationally, and internationally.

CORPORATE SPONSORS