Pub It Forward: How Afton Pub & Pizza Is Feeding Concord's Neighbors
- Solo Faith Church Inc.
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
On Village Drive in Concord, there's a neighborhood Italian pub doing something quietly remarkable. Afton Pub & Pizza has been serving fresh, made-from-scratch food and craft drinks to Cabarrus County families for years — and they've turned their dining room into something a little more than just a restaurant.
A Board Full of Sticky Notes
When you walk into Afton Pub & Pizza, you might notice a board near the entrance covered in sticky notes. Each one represents a meal — paid for by a neighbor who wanted to make sure someone else would always have something to eat.
Owner Jordan Kolod launched the "Pub It Forward" program to address food insecurity in Concord. The concept is simple and human: a customer donates $20, which covers any item on the menu, or $6, which covers any kids' menu item. Afton Pub matches every donation. Those contributions become sticky notes on the board. Anyone who comes in and needs a meal — no questions asked, no paperwork — can take a note and use it to order.
The sticky note system removes barriers quietly. No staff member hands you a voucher or processes you through a form. You simply take a note and order. For families navigating financial hardship, that kind of dignity matters.
Fresh, From-Scratch Italian in Cabarrus County
Afton Pub & Pizza describes itself as a modern Italian pub concept built around fresh, made-from-scratch food. Their kitchen works from real ingredients — house-made recipes, fresh dough, dishes built the way Italian pub cooking is supposed to feel. The menu stretches from classic pizzas to pub-style entrees, and the bar carries up to 12 rotating draft craft beers and an extensive wine menu curated for food pairings. Desserts, by all accounts, are worth saving room for.
The space itself gives you options. There's a comfortable dining room for families, a pub setting for watching sports, and an elevated patio overlooking the Village — a neighborhood that has grown into one of Concord's most walkable dining destinations.
More Than a Meal
The Pub It Forward program didn't just happen — it came from a decision to use a thriving local restaurant as a tool for something bigger. Jordan Kolod built a program where the restaurant isn't just a business, but a node in the community's support network. Every paying customer becomes a potential donor. Every donor funds a neighbor's meal. And because Afton matches every donation, the impact is doubled before anyone even orders.
At Solo Faith Church — located at 587 Old Charlotte Rd SW in Concord — we run a free food pantry and a DoorDash delivery program for families who can't get to the pantry themselves. We recognize Afton's model because it reflects the same principle: practical, dignity-first support for neighbors in need.
Visit Afton Pub & Pizza
Afton Pub & Pizza is located at 5380 Village Drive, Concord, NC 28027. Reach them by phone at (704) 782-3866. Their full menu is available online.
To explore their full menu and dining experience, visit Afton Pub & Pizza directly. For Concord-area residents, their local menu and contact page has everything you need to plan your visit.
Solo Faith Church spotlights Afton Pub & Pizza in our Solo Faith Directory because when a local restaurant chooses to fight hunger — not with a charity table or a donation bin, but by quietly embedding generosity into its own daily operation — that is a neighbor worth knowing about. When Concord residents support businesses like Afton Pub, they fuel more than a great meal: they sustain a model of mutual care.
Support Local — And Support Your Neighbors
When you support local businesses in Concord, you strengthen the whole community. Solo Faith Church also runs a free food pantry and DoorDash delivery program — consider sponsoring a family today. Learn more here.
Community Support Note: This spotlight is part of Solo Faith Church's local business directory initiative to uplift our Concord neighbors. Information was responsibly compiled from the business's public website, Explore Cabarrus, and publicly reported news coverage to help our congregation and community discover local services.
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