Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Everything to know about Saturday’s pilot social district

BAD’s social district pilot program is kicking off Saturday, night onto 5 p.m. only, and again the next two Saturdays at the same time. (Port City Daily/Shea Carver)

WILMINGTON — During the next three Saturdays, people will be able to open-carry containers of alcohol between participating businesses in the city’s first ever social district.

READ MORE: Wilmington’s pilot social district set, public speaks out

ALSO: Brooklyn Arts District one step closer to being Wilmington’s pilot social district

AND: BAD businesses to pitch pilot social district to city officials in the new year

The pilot program was voted on by city council earlier this month, scheduled to take place in the Brooklyn Arts District only, from noon to 5 p.m., Feb. 1, 8 and 15. The district encompasses 10 blocks of Fourth Street and a small area connecting to Third Street.

The first weekend will coincide with BAD’s Coffee Crawl, where more than a dozen participating businesses have special java-inspired drinks offered to the public, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. This includes everything from lattes to martinis, beer to wine, plus coffee-infused foods.

Only alcoholic beverages purchased from the participants are allowed to be freely carried, as folks stroll through the district to shop. All drinks must be finished or disposed of before entering another ABC-licensed establishment, per the law.

The pilot program is allowing the city and its leaders to engage in a testing ground for how social districts could work, particularly if a permanency to them is voted on later. In North Carolina, more than 50 social districts already exist. The BAD Collective — made up of 20 business owners in the area — made it clear their goal is to have the social district become a fixture in the area.

The collective will engage with city staff and others involved, such as Wilmington Downtown Inc. who is providing ambassadors to help monitor and ensure litter isn’t left behind, after each event over the next three weekends. The goal is to adjust and address problem areas as need be.

So what do participants need to understand in order to participate? Here’s a rundown:

Where is the social district?

It takes place primarily along Fourth Street, from Walnut Street at Flytrap Brewing to N. Front/Davis streets at Pizzeria Don Luca. However, there is a sliver of the south side of Red Cross Street also included in order to access Eagle’s Dare facing Third Street.

The map of BAD social district for Saturday. (Courtesy photo)

Who is participating?

There are more than 20 businesses in the area that will have signs on their doors and windows to let people know that’s where alcohol can be purchased and carried throughout the district.

  • Bottega Art and Wine
  • Brooklyn Cafe
  • Boombalatti’s Ice Cream
  • Bigg Redd’s Barbershop
  • Flytrap Brewing
  • three10 (until 4 PM)
  • Goat & Compass
  • Palate Bottle Shop & Garden
  • Commodore Public House & Kitchen
  • Dalisay Salon
  • The Eagle’s Dare
  • Edward Teach Brewery
  • Pizzeria Don Luca
  • The Kitchen Sink

A special social district sticker, stamped with the BAD logo and “Drink Responsibly — Be 21,” is placed on cups at each stop where a drink is purchased. All outside alcohol is not allowed to be brought into the district and carried freely.

Participants may purchase up to two beer or wine beverages or one liquor drink per establishment. Only people 21 and older can purchase alcohol and must have their ID on them at all times. However, the Coffee Crawl is family-friendly and open to all ages, not just those 21 and over.

Where is parking?

Some businesses may have limited parking, but there is also on-street in the North Fourth area.

Parking decks are located throughout downtown as well. The city’s Skyline Center (155 N. Brunswick St.) is a few blocks away from BAD, with parking rates as follows:

  • Up to 1 hour: $1
  • Up to 2 hours: $3
  • Up to 3 hours: $6
  • 3 to 12 hours: $9
  • 12 to 24 hours: $14 (Max)

What else?

Trash cans will be set up throughout the district for people to easily dispose of their cups. Should the district become permanent, the BAD Collective is looking at having reusable cups to become part of the program, utilizing stickers placed on them when someone traverses from one establishment to the next.

Roadways are not closed, so attendees should stick to sidewalks and public right-of-ways and exercise caution when crossing streets.

It’s important to also refrain from drinking and driving by either utilizing ride-share or have a designated driver.

The other dates of the social district also coincide with BAD events, which may include vendors and live music at various stops.

Feb. 8, noon to 5 p.m.: Super B.A.D 

A benefit event for a local food bank 

Feb. 15, noon to 5 p.m.: Sweetheart Stroll

A fundraiser for Hurricane Helene survivors in Western North Carolina


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Shea Carver
Shea Carver
Shea Carver is the editor in chief at Port City Daily. A UNCW alumna, Shea worked in the print media business in Wilmington for 22 years before joining the PCD team in October 2020. She specializes in arts coverage — music, film, literature, theatre — the dining scene, and can often be tapped on where to go, what to do and who to see in Wilmington. When she isn’t hanging with her pup, Shadow Wolf, tending the garden or spinning vinyl, she’s attending concerts and live theater.

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