Why the Military Is Part of the Story Here
Fort Liberty — still called Fort Bragg by most locals — is 30 to 45 minutes from Pinehurst. It’s one of the largest military installations in the world, home to the Army’s Special Operations Command and the 82nd Airborne Division. Generations of soldiers and their families have cycled through this area.
But here’s the thing a lot of visitors don’t realize: many of them stayed. They finished their service, looked around, and decided this quiet corner of North Carolina was worth building a life in. Some opened businesses. Some married into the community. Some just couldn’t imagine leaving the pines.
The result is a veteran and military spouse community woven into the fabric of the Sandhills — not a separate thing you have to seek out, but part of the everyday life of these towns. You’ll find it in the distillery on Yadkin Road, the bakehouse on Bennett Street, the breweries and coffee roasters across Aberdeen and Southern Pines, and in plenty of places you’d never guess had a military connection unless someone told you.
BHAWK — Brad Halling American Whiskey Ko.
Southern Pines | Distillery, Restaurant & Bar
Brad Halling is a retired Special Forces soldier who fought in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993 — the mission that became “Black Hawk Down.” He was aboard one of the helicopters that came under attack and lost his left leg below the knee. His wife Jessica is also a retired Army officer with 29 years of service. They married on Veterans Day in 2011 and built BHAWK from the ground up on Yadkin Road in Southern Pines.
It opened in late 2023 as a distillery, cocktail bar, restaurant, and event space. Sergeant’s Valor is their flagship bourbon — smooth with hints of oak, caramel, and tobacco. Madam Colonel is Jessica’s line of premium vodkas and gins. The food menu is casual-upscale, and the BLT and burger both get high marks.
What makes BHAWK different is the Gratitude Room — a living museum at the heart of the campus dedicated to honoring military service. Each batch of Sergeant’s Valor tells a story. Batch one honors the crew of Super 62, the helicopter that carried Brad from the battlefield. Tours and tastings available. Reservations recommended for dinner.
Railhouse Brewery
Aberdeen | Brewery & Pub
Railhouse has been around since 2010, making it one of the original craft breweries in Moore County. Founded by Brian Evitts (Navy veteran) and Mike Ratkowski (Army veteran), it’s now owned and operated by veterans of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The vibe is straightforward and unpretentious — exactly what you’d want from a veteran-owned brewery. They brew everything on-site, from smooth easy-drinking classics to bolder stuff. The flagship is their English Brown Ale, co-branded with KA-BAR, the iconic military knife company.
The pub serves solid bar food — the cheese curds and soft pretzel are standouts. Full liquor bar alongside the 16 taps. Live music is regular, music bingo nights are a local favorite, and the outdoor space is family and dog-friendly. It’s in downtown Aberdeen, five minutes from Pinehurst.
Bravory Bakehouse
Southern Pines | Bakery & Cookie Shop
Bravory is different. It’s not just veteran-owned — it’s built specifically to honor and employ military spouses. Founded by Erin Vandre, a military spouse and lifelong baker, and her husband Nicholas, a U.S. Army Special Operations veteran. The name is a blend of “bravery” and “valor,” a nod to the resilience of military families.
Every cookie is handmade by military spouses, and a portion of every online sale goes to nonprofit organizations supporting military families. The shop has a WWII Americana aesthetic with a modern twist. The cookies are the main event — huge, stuffed, and baked with serious attention to the craft. They also serve cinnamon rolls, bars, soft serve, coffee, and cold brew. Gluten-free options available.
Their storefront opened in mid-2025 at 974 S Bennett Street in Southern Pines. They also ship nationwide.
Trade Craft Coffee Roasters
Southern Pines | Coffee Roaster & Cafe
Trade Craft is veteran-owned and the newest addition to the Southern Pines coffee scene. They roast their own beans in small batches — a rarity around here — and spent years running as a mobile cafe before opening this brick-and-mortar spot just minutes from Pinehurst.
The loyalty they built on the road clearly came with them. The space is built for sticking around, not just grabbing and going. Whether you’re caffeinating before a round, meeting someone for a slow morning, or settling in with a laptop for a while, it’s the kind of place that rewards the second and third visit.
Cactus Creek Gourmet Coffee
Aberdeen | Coffee Roaster & Cafe
Cactus Creek Coffee was born in 2004 when a group of retired Special Forces buddies got together over coffee and decided to start roasting their own. The name itself tells the story — Western roots from founders out of Arizona and Utah, merged with the creek crossings they remembered from the Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg.
Most visitors skip Aberdeen entirely, which is a mistake, and Cactus Creek is exhibit A for why. They roast and bake on-site, supply beans to other shops in the area including BRIM in Pinehurst, and run the kind of laid-back, dog-friendly spot where the people behind the counter actually know what they’re doing. Five minutes from Pinehurst, and one of the more direct lines you’ll find between this area’s military heritage and your morning cup.
The Bell Tree Tavern
Southern Pines | Restaurant & Bar
One of the most popular spots on Broad Street, now owned by Chase Hill and Dan Adams — who served on the same team at Fort Bragg. They took over in 2023 from the original owner who ran it for 14 years, and they haven’t messed with what works.
The Bell Tree is where Southern Pines goes to eat, drink, and watch games. Big TVs, a dog-friendly patio, live music on weekends, and a menu built around solid American tavern food — bison burgers, brisket, shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes. It’s been called one of “America’s Great Bourbon Bars,” and the drink list backs that up.
It’s not a place that advertises its military connection. It’s just a good bar run by guys who happened to serve. That’s kind of the point of this whole post.
The Ones We Lost
Southern Pines Brewing Company — founded by three Special Forces soldiers in 2014 — closed all its locations by December 31, 2025, after 11 years. Hatchet Brewing closed three days earlier. Both were gathering places for the community, and the craft beer scene here is smaller without them. All the more reason to support the ones that remain.
The Short List
Best overall experience: BHAWK. The Gratitude Room alone is worth the trip.
Best brewery: Railhouse in Aberdeen — veteran-owned since 2010, and they brew the only KA-BAR branded beer in the country.
Best morning stop: Trade Craft in Southern Pines or Cactus Creek in Aberdeen. Two veteran-owned roasters, both worth the visit.
Best way to support military spouses: Bravory Bakehouse. Every cookie is handmade by a military spouse.
Best gift to bring home: A bottle of Sergeant’s Valor bourbon from BHAWK. The story is on the label.
Best place to grab a drink and watch the game: The Bell Tree Tavern on Broad Street.
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