The Eagle’s Dare beer garden and cocktail bar is coming to 3rd St.

WILMINGTON, N.C. (CAPE FEAR WEEKEND) -

An longtime empty building on 3rd street is becoming a new local spot for drinks, and fun.

Joe Apkarian, the owner of Pour House and co-owner of Taco Baby in downtown Wilmington, is now working with contractors and the city to bring his latest project to market, The Eagle’s Dare.

Apkarian signed a lease on the property at 420 N. Third St. in mid-December.

From fine cocktails and wine to beers on tap, The Eagle’s Dare will have something for everyone, Apkarian said.

Apkarian plans to open The Eagle’s Dare this summer.

“We are shooting for Memorial Day. If we don’t get to Memorial Day, it’s because of logistics and supply chain shortfalls, not because we did not properly plan and execute,” Apkarian said. “Our team is absolutely ready for this. The Eagle will land.”

The project will bring 20 to 30 full and part-time jobs to the city in various positions, including bartenders, barbacks, security, and managerial staff.

The 4,000 square-foot building will host two indoor bar areas that will open up to a Third Street-facing outdoor beer garden. The establishment will also include a gated play area for children and dogs to roam around away from the busy street.

There are plans to have a rotating schedule of local food trucks and live music at the bar and beer garden. In addition, the venue space will be open to host corporate, private, and wedding events.

The Eagle’s Dare will be a local veteran-owned establishment. Two of the co-owners in The Eagle’s Dare are retired Marine Raiders. The Marine Raider Foundation will own 1% of the establishment.

Apkarian aims to support local and national nonprofit organizations, like The Marine Raider Foundation, as he has with Pour House and Taco Baby where a certain percentage of sales go towards fundraisers for nonprofits.

The North Third Street property has changed hands several times, originally starting as an auto service station.

“We want to enhance the natural ambiance of an industrial service station and highlight the design aesthetic with art. The Eagle’s Dare color palette scheme is red and white, with accents of black, grey, and other bits of color here and there,” Apkarian said.

The Eagle’s Dare will add to downtown Wilmington’s modern industrial aesthetic while still harkening to its historical roots, he said. Apkarian is excited to bring the new establishment to the growing downtown business community and make The Eagle’s Dare that missing connection between central downtown and the Brooklyn Arts District.

“We want to continue to elevate the Wilmington scene and for people to choose The Eagle’s Dare. That means we have to continuously evolve and make the experience of the place enticing and welcoming and keep people wanting to come back,” Apkarian said.

We can’t wait for it to open, and we will bring you more details on new upcoming spots here on Cape Fear Weekend.

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