Nestled in the heart of downtown Whiteville, Candlewood Farms Coffee & Bakery LLC is the kind of place that feels like it’s been part of the community forever—even though its story began only a few years ago. Founder Bethany Moore always dreamed of owning her own business. In 2023, she started baking sourdough bread from her home kitchen, sharing loaves with friends, family, and neighbors. Their enthusiastic response planted the seed for something bigger: a cozy bakery built around her sourdough breads, bagels, pastries, and specialty coffees.
As Bethany’s vision took shape, she noticed a clear gap, downtown Whiteville didn’t have a spot dedicated to sourdough baked goods and handcrafted coffee. With determination and the support of her family, she connected with the Small Business Center at Southeastern Community College, where a business counselor helped her turn her dream into a solid business plan and realistic cash flow projections. When she found the perfect location on South Madison Street, she was referred to Carolina Community Impact for financing to bring her idea to life.
Through CCI’s microloan program, Bethany secured a $50,000 loan to launch Candlewood Farms Coffee & Bakery. She opened her doors in the2024, transforming the space into a warm, welcoming “living room” for Whiteville, complete with comfortable seating, board games, and the smell of fresh sourdough in the air. Today, the bakery is known not just for its bagels, breads, pastries, and rich coffee, but for being a true gathering place where people come to meet, relax, and connect.
Bethany’s family has been instrumental in the bakery’s success. They regularly pitch in behind the counter, serving customers and crafting specialty coffees, choosing to accept only tips rather than a paycheck in the early stages so the business could stay lean and strong. Their shared faith is woven into the life of the bakery as well; Candlewood Farms hosts Bible studies and community groups alongside its regular events, offering both physical and spiritual nourishment to neighbors and friends.
What began as a home-based sourdough experiment has quickly become one of Whiteville’s go-to spots for baked goods and coffee, a place where out-of-town visitors are sent by word of mouth and locals are greeted by name. Carolina Community Impact is proud to have played a part in Bethany’s journey from dream to downtown mainstay, and we’re excited to watch Candlewood Farms Coffee & Bakery continue to rise, one loaf, one latte, and one community gathering at a time.
