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Where Jazz, History & Community Come Together
There’s a new place in Southern Pines where history, jazz, and a little mystery come together. And as they like to say at Seaboard Freight:
If you know, you know.
Located inside the 100-year-old Seaboard Railroad Freight Depot, Seaboard Freight has transformed one of Southern Pines’ memorable historic buildings into a jazz speakeasy filled with exposed brick, worn wood floors, historic character, craft cocktails, and, of course, jazz.
For owner Kevin Drum, however, opening Seaboard Freight was about more than creating a great place for a night out. He wanted to breathe new life into a historic building while adding something different to the community he grew up in.
“I wanted to add to Southern Pines, not take,” Kevin explained during our recent conversation. His goal was to preserve the character of the old freight depot while creating an experience that transports guests to another time.
And he took the history seriously.
A freight building has occupied the site since 1895, with the current building dating to 1930. Rather than modernizing away its character, Kevin embraced it. Original floors and ceilings remain, historic freight doors inspired design choices, and photographs, postcards, trains, and railroad details throughout the space help tell the story of Southern Pines and the depot.
Step inside and the atmosphere changes. Low lighting, historic textures, cocktails inspired by another era, and the sound of jazz are all intentional. Kevin wants guests to feel as though they have stepped out of today's world and into a jazz speakeasy from another time.
“We want to bring you into a different world,” he said.
A Shared Love of Jazz
This is where the connection between Seaboard Freight and Weymouth becomes especially meaningful.
Jazz is not simply part of the atmosphere at Seaboard Freight; it is part of Kevin’s story. His father loved jazz, and Kevin grew up listening to his jazz albums. Today, that lifelong connection to the music has evolved into a commitment to supporting local musicians and helping jazz continue to grow in Moore County.
“We really feel it’s our job…to support local music,” Kevin shared.
That commitment led Seaboard Freight to become a sponsor of Weymouth’s "Come Sunday Jazz Series," helping us bring outstanding jazz musicians to the Weymouth lawn while continuing to build an audience for live jazz in our community. And Kevin is already thinking bigger. During our conversation, we discovered a shared dream of seeing jazz grow beyond individual performances into something that could one day bring Weymouth, local venues, musicians, and the greater Southern Pines community together for an even larger celebration of jazz.
A Personal Connection to Weymouth
Kevin’s support of Weymouth is personal, too.
He has spent years walking our grounds and woods and remembers Weymouth from earlier chapters of his life. “Weymouth has been a big part of my life,” he told us.
And that is exactly what makes community partnerships like this so special.
Our sponsors aren't simply putting their names on an event. They are people and businesses who understand what places like Weymouth mean to a community and who choose to invest in preserving them and helping their programs grow.
Thank you, Kevin Drum and Seaboard Freight, for supporting "Come Sunday Jazz," investing in local music, and helping us keep jazz playing in Moore County.
And if you haven't discovered Seaboard Freight yet, we'll leave you with their motto:
"If you know, you know."
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