Moore Street Market, 130 East Moore St. in Southport, was the recipient of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce’s Winter Golden Pineapple Award in the category of food and drink.

Golden Pineapple Awards are given quarterly to those businesses nominated by their customers for providing consistent and exceptional customer service said Karen Sphar, executive vice president of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce.  
 
“Consistent and exceptional customer service is the foundation of a thriving small business,” Sphar said. “We chose to incorporate the pineapple into this award because it is the international symbol of hospitality.”
 
Owners Bridget Reichhart and Andrew Laing took over the market last August, and describe it as a coffee shop as well as a deli and café.
 
A favorite spot for locals for the past nine years, Moore Street Market serves as a gathering space for the community said Andrew Laing.
 
“The market is a staple here in Southport, serving lots of regulars,” Laing said. “It’s part of the daily routine for many locals.”
 
The market serves breakfast each morning at 7 a.m., offering baked goods such as scones and croissants, as well as made to order breakfast sandwiches. One of the most popular, according to Laing, is The Garrison, with egg, Boar’s Head ham and cheddar cheese, grilled onions and roasted red peppers on rye bread.
 
The bestseller on the lunch menu is Sweet Daddy’s Sandwich, featuring homemade cranberry walnut chicken salad with lettuce on a pretzel roll. Customers will also find Grandma’s Best Egg Salad on the menu as well as Noah’s Corned Beef Reuben, and the Em-O Salad, with candied pecans, granny smith apples, blue cheese crumbles and balsamic vinaigrette.
 
The market serves coffees made with beans from Raleigh roastery Larry’s Beans as well as several varieties of chai lattes.
 
Housed in a pre-Civil War era home, the market has a large courtyard which the Laing’s plan to renovate prior to the summer season.
 
“There’s really no other space quite like this in downtown Southport,” Laing said. “We look forward to installing new seating and a bar that will allow for great people watching.”
 
The courtyard also includes a stage where live music will be performed, and this area, as well as several spaces inside, can be reserved for meetings or small gatherings.
 
In addition to sprucing up the courtyard, the owners have updated the website to allow for on-line ordering and payment, which they hope will help with getting customers in and out during the busy summer months. They will also be stocking several grab-n-go items such as sandwiches and salads, cookies and brownies, and bulk items such as pimento cheese and chicken and egg salads. Local delivery by golf cart will soon be available within downtown area.
 
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