In the shadow of Hanging Rock State Park, trees look like green cotton balls covering the landscape’s slight hills and valleys. After driving along NC Highway 311 for several miles, the road unravels into Walnut Cove’s Main Street. There, a blue awning drapes over a black-and-white sign: “The Milk Bar,” it reads, flagging down famished drivers.
Owner Debbie Sorrell strolls in, waving to customers waiting at the ice cream bar at the front of the shop. She looks around at the lunch crowd and confesses, “When we first opened, we had no restaurant experience.”
You don’t have to be destined for a hike at Hanging Rock State Park to log some steps — an afternoon stroll through downtown Walnut Cove offers a picturesque Main Street and plenty of diversions along the way. photograph by Joey Seawell
After church one Sunday in 2015, Sorrell and her daughter, Christy Shirley, peered into the window of what is now The Milk Bar. Baking was a hobby of Sorrell’s and the “For Rent” sign was conjuring visions of making and selling cakes. After looking inside, the two found that the space had a hot bar counter and industrial-grade kitchen equipment. And, well, it seemed like they might as well use it.
Debbie and her husband, Jerry, signed the lease and they all got to work. The trio culled from family recipes to make the most of the items on their hot bar, and the menu now includes a few customer suggestions, as well.
The Milk Bar carries on a heritage of the milk bars that popped up in the 1940s: gathering places to eat and enjoy non-alcoholic drinks and fellowship. Or, as Sorrell says when she sees two tables striking up a conversation, “Gosh, it’s like being at your grandma’s house.” While The Milk Bar is certainly a locals’ place, it also feeds plenty of out-of-towners who come through on their way to or from hiking or camping at Hanging Rock.
About a 20-minute drive away, you can take in the views at Hanging Rock State Park. photograph by Douglas Hurdle/douglashurdle.com
Along the road from Sorrell’s place, 1889 Taphouse sells beer on tap and wine by the glass for those looking to wind down after a hike, a meal, or both. Across the street and down a ways, The Just Plain Country Store is a refuge for shoppers — 16,000 square feet of antiques, home decor, and any gift item you can think of.
Owner Kathy Dix has filled the 1916 building with 150 vendors, who sell items ranging from tea towels to ceramic Christmas trees to vintage gas station memorabilia.
When Dix started the business in 2001, she ran it from a tiny space across the street. “We graduated a little bit,” she says. On the second Saturday of November, during the annual Just Plain Country Festival, Dix expands her style of hospitality out onto the road by closing Fourth Street and hiring music and food vendors. It’s the kind of open-arms principle that doesn’t just happen in the fall — it’s the kind that keeps Main Street the heart of Walnut Cove.
The Milk Bar
213 North Main Street
(336) 591-9262
mymilkbarwc.com
1889 Taphouse
310 North Main Street
facebook.com/1889taphouse
The Just Plain Country Store
405 North Main Street
(336) 591-7778
North Carolinians need not depend on the luck of the Irish to see green. With our islands and parks, greenways and fairways, mosses and ferns, all we have to do is look around.
The arrival of warmer afternoons makes it a wonderful time to stroll through a historic waterfront locale. From centuries-old landmarks and historical tours to local restaurants and shops, here’s how to spend a spring day in this Chowan County town.
Before a chef served elegant charcuterie, she was a young girl discovering refined flavors at the local Hickory Farms shop.
In the North Carolina Foothills, a music program — and its talented host — celebrates the diverse genres that have shaped our musical landscape.
