Show notes
Inside Cinch: Wilmington’s New Billiards Bar with Cocktails, History, and Hands-On Buildout On the Whiskey and Wisdom Podcast, Chris Kellum and Tyler talk with Haley and Joe in a new location, Cinch in downtown Wilmington. Joe and Haley describe opening Cinch on December 5 after signing the lease in June and completing a roughly six-and-a-half-month buildout that transformed the former Christmas shops space, including extensive demolition and discovering historic features like 1960s dress boxes, a hidden salon in the basement, old deposit slips labeled “US Depository,” and brick walls. They discuss the concept as a high-end but casual hangout with four quality pool tables, a lounge and TVs, and a cocktail program featuring drinks like the Dirty Cinch, “We Should Start a Podcast,” and “Pony Up,” with seasonal additions. They share hours (4:30 daily; 12:30 weekends), free pool Monday–Tuesday 4:30–6 with two drinks, and closing times (12 weekdays, 1 weekends). 00:00 Welcome to Cinch 00:15 Meet Haley and Joe 01:10 Opening Date and Buildout 02:02 From Christmas Shop to Vision 03:05 Signature Cocktails Talk 04:50 From Rum Cow to Underfront 07:00 Why a Billiards Bar 09:03 What Cinch Means 11:30 Building History and Basement 13:05 Design Choices and DIY Build 16:24 Downtown History and Hidden Finds 19:05 Hours Specials and Popular Drinks 20:16 Custom Bar Art 20:56 Curated Cocktail Menu 22:32 Classic Cocktails Explained 24:20 Chain Restaurant Nostalgia 26:36 Why Food Quality Dropped 27:32 No Food and Ghost Kitchen 28:51 Selling vs Building Legacy 32:48 Building the Space 35:41 Pool Table Deep Dive 37:53 Wild Sports Tangent 40:38 Make Drinks and Wrap