It's easy to support local with a day in downtown Southern Pines

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. — As historic downtown Southern Pines continues to grow, be sure to check out locally-owned businesses in the area.

Sweet Basil Cafe features fresh baked bread every day by chef and owner John Davis. The cafe is located at 134 Northwest Broad St

The Ice Cream Parlor not only serves a dozen flavors of ice cream, but also has burgers, sandwiches and wraps for those looking for a bite to eat. The parlor is located at 176 Northwest Broad St.

Swank Coffee Shop serves a variety of espresso and coffee, and also has a market for visitors to shop from. The market has T-shirts and handmade art and home products. The shop is located at 232 Northwest Broad St.

SoPies Pizza has been a staple of Southern Pines since 1991. Visitors can pick up authentic, hand-tossed New York pizza. The restaurant is located at 137 W. New Hampshire St.

Southern Whey is made by and for cheese lovers! The cheese-centric specialty grocery store is located at 223 Northeast Broad St. Besides offering a variety of cheeses for purchase, the store also sells sandwiches and cheese boards.

The Country Bookshop has a vast variety of books for readers to choose from. The book shop has been open in downtown Southern Pines since 1935 and hosts community events such as weekly story time for kids. Pick up your next book at 140 Northwest Broad St.

Against the Grain Shoppe showcases furniture and home decorations. The shoppe's website says that 65% of it's inventory is sourced from other small businesses in the state, so it's a shopper's delight for anyone looking to support local businesses. The store is located at 220 Northwest Broad St.

Sunrise Theater has plays, outdoor concerts and summer camps for those interested in the arts. While the theater is currently showing Mama Mia, other upcoming shows include The Sound of Music and Ghostbusters. The theater is located at 250 Northwest Broad St.

The Encore Center is home to the Carolina Performing Arts Studio and the Carolina Performing Arts Theatre Group. The studio teaches ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and other dance classes. The theatre group has performed Charlotte's Web and other classic stories. Check out the bustling arts center at 160 E. New Hampshire St.

Other locally-owned businesses in downtown Southern Pines can be found here.