Hello DeltaM, Welcome to the DRTV forum, as a former 20 year resident of NC, Charlotte, Mooresville, Hampstead, Oak Island, Carolina Beach, and Wilmington, yes I moved quite a bit for a while.
The Hardware Store is private property, the lady who sells stamps, is more than likely a "contractor" for the Postal Service and not a Federal employee. Never a bad idea to just ask,...The County Sheriff has the discretion to set the local/county regs on CCW. Here lies the rub, not just in NC but in a few other states. Some county regs. contradict State Law, and the that;s the way it is.
No CCW at a funeral for example...(Only in NC)....
Here's one better, look up the open carry statutes in NC (it is legal), BUT they wonderful "gray area" can get you a "brandishing to the terror of the public".
NC is great that way. Sometimes the less they know the better but, I always would just ask.
Pender County towards Burgaw was about the worst.
Former long time NC resident,
Tom W.