"I know it is tax time right now. People do have money, and they aren't spending, so that's a red flag," said Kari Moore.
Moore, the daughter of a veteran and a military spouse, owns The Dancer, a dance retail specialty store along Fayetteville's Yadkin Road corridor. She says she is concerned about what deployments could mean for her business as families prepare to send loved ones to the Middle East.
"They'll have to cut back on things," Moore said. "I think extracurricular activities will take a hit, and it will affect me."
Her concerns are also personal. Moore's 22-year-old son is stationed at Fort Bragg with the 82nd Airborne Division, and she admits the possibility of deployment brings anxiety.
"What do you do? It's not my choice," she said. "I know it worries my husband. I know it will cause a lot of anxiety as a parent."
Her worries come as a defense official confirms that elements of the 82nd Airborne Division will deploy to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, which includes parts of the Middle East.
Just a few doors down, Craig Black is noticing changes inside his own store.
Black owns All-American Military Surplus, where he says soldiers have been more tight-lipped than usual about potential deployments. Still, he says their purchases tell a story.
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"One of the items is the larger duffel bags," Black said. "It gives them a little extra capacity for deployments or training."
Black says he's seeing more soldiers buying gear as if they're preparing to be gone for extended periods of time.
The son of a Vietnam veteran who retired at Fort Bragg, Black says he understands what military families are going through and is offering words of support.
"We wish them the best. Come home soon," he said.
The 82nd Airborne Division has not said when troops will deploy. Officials say there will not be any public deployment ceremonies this time around.