A framed photo of two smiling men greets visitors as they enter Cork in Southern Pines. The vintage photo feels right at home among the exposed brick and native clay walls in this century-old theater building that owners Patrick McKee and Janeen Driscoll transformed into a wine and cocktail bar.
“When people hear the name ‘Cork,’ they think we’re all about wine,” Driscoll says. However, her family’s Irish homeland actually inspired the name. Driscoll nods to the photo. “My grandfather and great uncle, with their arms around each other, holding hands — that was the spirit we wanted to bring to Cork.”
McKee believes the space itself is a big part of the draw. Then there’s the vibe: no TVs, no live music. “This historic building in the middle of downtown is beloved; it has a unique sense of place and feels really special,” he says.
“From the very beginning, when we named it Cork Community Spirits, it was about trying to get people to have conversations,” Driscoll says. “The other night we had an older couple who came in, the man in a black tie and tux, and they had just gone to the symphony. They wanted a special place to have a cocktail. And they were sitting next to 30-year-olds. People don’t have their phones on; they’re just connecting and talking. That’s what we truly believe is the magic.”
Tiny but mighty fun
Driscoll and McKee’s history with Moore County dates back to 2008, when Driscoll headed up the Wine Festival for Pinehurst Resort. “I came down from Durham to be a judge at the blind tastings,” McKee says. “Here we are, 17 years later, as a married couple.”…