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