The billboard on southbound U.S. 1 at Youngs Road says it all - Cracker Barrel is opening its newest restaurant on U.S. 15-501 in Southern Pines on July 11.

"That date is correct," says Jeanne Ludington, a spokeswoman at the company's headquarters in Lebanon, Tenn.

Cracker Barrel is hosting a grand opening Monday, July 11, that will follow a "friends and family" training session the previous weekend.

Under a growth strategy that focuses in part on off-Interstate locations, the new restaurant will employ between 100 and 120 workers once it becomes operational.

Ray Ogden, executive director of Moore County Partners in Progress, and Gene Norton, manager of the Aberdeen office of the N.C. Employment Security Commission, have both hailed the new jobs, especially amid an economic recovery that has been slow to reach fruition.

Construction began last January after Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores Inc. paid $1.25 million for the 1.62-acre former John's Barbecue and Seafood Restaurant site, and $400,000 for .48 acres of the adjacent 3.05-acre lot owned by the State Employees Credit Union.

The restaurant will be a new company prototype, offering more day lighting and skylights around the restaurant so employees do not feel stuck in the dark while working shifts in the restaurant's dimly lit cozy, cabin atmosphere.

It will also be smaller. A typical Cracker Barrel has 7,900 square feet of dining space and 2,100 square feet of retail space, while the Southern Pines location will have 5,770 and 3,190, respectively.

The company's off-Interstate growth strategy is evidenced by the nearest Cracker Barrel, which opened in September 2009 at the intersection of N.C. 87 and U.S. 401 in Sanford.

Although the company is not fully saturated on Interstate highways, its off-Interstate locations help ensure future expansion.

A typical restaurant serves 6,900 guests per week and has annual sales of $4.06 million.

Every Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Martha Gentry

Team Among Tops

For the 10th consecutive year, Martha Gentry's Home Selling Team has achieved a level of excellence that places it in the top five teams for Re/Max Carolina.

Gentry's team came in at No. 4 in North and South Carolina and also placed in the prestigious top 100 teams in the country.

"I'm very proud of my whole organization," Gentry said. "Year after year, they turn in an outstanding performance that allows our team to successfully outperform really good teams from much larger areas, such as Charlotte and Charleston. These past few years have been challenging but, as always, they have responded with excellence.

"All of our team members, whether on the listing and selling side or on the administrative side, are the best! You can't teach people pride and responsibility in their job - it just has to come naturally, and I've been very, very fortunate to find great people! Just ask any of the buyers and sellers who have worked with them."

According to Gentry, the real estale market will remain static for the next year or longer. However, she said she feels that this market presents historic opportunities for both buyers and sellers who will purchase after selling their current home.

"There are many of us in real estate that feel this combination of low interest rates and housing prices at a 10-year low will make this the best time ever to buy. I'm looking forward to a great year in 2011."

Goneau, Dishner

Attend Pella Show

Marcel Goneau and Jess Dishner, of Goneau Dishner Construction, attended the 2011 Pro Expo presented by Pella on March 10 at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte.

Goneau Dishner is a new partnership for Goneau and Dishner, who have been in the design and construction industry for more than 30 years. They have combined their experiences in residential and commercial design and construction to become a major contractor throughout the Carolinas based in Pinehurst.

The company is positioned to do all phases of commercial and residential construction, from its conception through its design/development and its ultimate completion, a news release said.

Goneau and Disher said they found the Pella Pro Expo to be very informative with the seminars they attended and catching up on the new products from all the partners at the show.

They were extremely interested in the new Encompass 350 Series and the Pella Premium Wood Door Systems. They said they believe the Pella brand is important because of its value of quality and service.

In addition, the two said they appreciate the relationships and knowledge of the business they receive from Pella Carolina. They said the fact that they can work on a project anywhere in North Carolina and have the confidence of dealing with the same Pella distributor is huge for them.

Goneau and Dishner said they are looking forward to working on many projects with Pella Carolina and welcome the invitation of becoming a Pella select contractor.

BB&T Promotes Fox

To Regional Position

BB&T has promoted Debbie Fox to regional mortgage manager for its nine-county south central region.

She is based at 50 Aviemore Court in Pinehurst.

A Statesville native, Fox joined BB&T in 1998 and brings more than 26 years of experience in the financial services industry to her new role, a news release said.

Fox is a member of the Moore County Home Builders Association and the Pinehurst-Southern Pines Area Board of Realtors.

BB&T Corp. is one of the largest financial services holding companies in the United States with $157 billion in assets as of March 31.

Based in Winston-Salem, the company operates 1,800 financial centers in 12 states and Washington, D.C.

A Fortune 500 company, BB&T is consistently recognized for outstanding client satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Greenwich Associates and others.

More information about BB&T and its full line of products and services is available at www.BBT.com.

Hallent Joins

Prudential GOS

Carolyn Hallett has joined Prudential Gouger O'Neal & Saunders Real Estate as a full-time broker associate in the Southern Pines office, company president Kay Beran announced.

Originally from Virginia, Hallet has lived in North Carolina since 1980 and has lived in Pinehurst since 1999.

Many Sandhills residents will remember her from Special Things, a specialty shop she opened in 1996 in the village of Pinehurst and then on Broad Street in Southern Pines.

Hallet and her husband, Henry, have owned homes in Durham, Raleigh, Cary and Danbury, Conn. During this time, they renovated two homes and built three. They have a daughter, Abby, who is 10 years old.

Hallett said her interest in homes grew out of her love of residential design, which she practiced for 10 years in the Raleigh-Durham area prior to opening Special Things. She received her bachelor's degree in interior design from Meredith College in Raleigh.

"I am excited to be associated with Prudential Gouger O'Neal & Saunders Real Estate, a company that has stood the test of time, with over 40 years of doing business in Moore County, and with such a sound reputation," Hallet said. "I feel my association with a known brand that offers such excellent resources will be of value to my customers and clients."

Beran said, "We are extremely pleased to welcome Carolyn to the Prudential Gouger O'Neal & Saunders Real Estate sales professional team."

Hallett said she is enthusiastic and excited about real estate in the Sandhills and that she is eager to assist her clients to find their special home here in Moore county.

She can be reached at (910) 986-2319 or the main office number (910) 692-2635. Her e-mail address is challett@prudentialpine-hurst.com.

First Bank Board

Declares Dividend

The board of directors of First Bancorp, the parent company of First Bank, has declared a cash dividend on its common stock of 8 cents per share.

It is payable July 25 to shareholders of record as of June 30, 2011. The 8 cents per share dividend rate is the same as the rate declared in the same period of 2010.