Nothing is more North Carolina than BBQ, and there’s one name that echoes the city when it comes to this mouthwatering southern staple. The man, the legend, the community Uncle, Carl Pringle, has made it his mission to feed his family (the city and surrounding areas).
Uncle Carl is a household name here in Fayetteville. The owner of Flip Flop Sauce, his own personal BBQ sauce, sells it locally, including at Food Lion and restaurants like Dad Bod Food Truck. A portion of the sales is used to fund Uncle Carl’s Safe Space. From his magnetic smile to his equally magnetic heart, the DC native is the epitome of a community leader. While his humbleness would never let him forget it, he has truly put in the work in the community, even when the cameras aren’t rolling. A selfless individual with a passion to not only feed the community but to bring a bit of sunshine. Through his nonprofit, We Are One Big Family, Uncle Carl has fed countless community members who experience food insecurity, setting up the grill and serving free food with a smile around Fayetteville.
You can’t miss his iconic Flip Flop Sauce van with trailer and grill in tow. Once he touches down, you know everyone will have a full belly. Uncle Carl doesn’t do it all on his own. He has the support of other community members with the same mission in mind: “make sure everyone eats.”
As he puts it, “We came up with the name, because it wasn’t about the name on the event or who’s doing it. It’s about us coming together as a family and making sure our family eats.”
As a unifying figure and the heart of food insecurity advocacy, Uncle Carl makes an impact on everyone he encounters and inspires others to be generous, gracious and conscious of the whole community.
“Uncle Carl isn’t just Fayetteville’s favorite uncle…he’s the kind of soul who makes you believe in the goodness of people. He’s the one who would give his last dollar without hesitation, cook you a meal when you didn’t even realize you needed one, or sit and listen when life feels too heavy. He’s the family you never asked for, but once he claims you as his own, that’s it… You’re loved, supported, and encouraged for life. Uncle Carl doesn’t just show up, he pours into you with every bit of kindness he has, reminding us all what it means to truly be there for one another.” Said Kaylynn Suarez, Dogwood Festive Executive Director.
Dennis Vee, local comedian and veteran, has worked with Pringle in the past and supports his mission.
“Carl’s the only guy I know who can fix your hunger, your heart, and probably your marriage with one bottle of sauce. Man’s out here feeding the community like Jesus with a grill… except instead of fish and bread, it’s wings, ribs, and Flip Flop Sauce! Fayetteville doesn’t need Batman; we've got Carl, and he actually shows up!” Vee said. “But seriously, having Carl in Fayetteville means a lot to me, to us, the community, because he’s the kind of man who doesn’t just talk about helping, he actually does it. Whether it’s feeding people, creating safe spaces, or just showing love through that Flip Flop Sauce, he puts his heart into this community. To me, he’s proof that one person really can make a difference, and we’re better off because he’s here.”
Carl Pringle has been serving this community for a while now, with little accolades, and that's ok, because that’s not what he does it for. If there was ever a person or a cause to get behind, this is it. Keep an eye out for more from Uncle Carl and grab a bottle of his famous Flip Flop Sauce here https://flipflopbbq.com/.

(Photo courtesy of Flip Flop Sauce's Facebook page)