When Abby and Jonathan Beland looked around downtown Wilmington, they said they could envision an immersive, tropical getaway to add to the area’s social scene. Now, they are working to open Lost & Found
Tiki Bar in a high-profile space in the former Dram & Draught spot at 109 Market St.
They moved to the area from Los Angeles looking for a slower pace of life, and brought with them a background in events and production design, as well as hospitality and bartending.
“We love a tiki bar,” Abby Beland said.
Lost & Found won't be a typical beach bar, they said. Instead, it will be modeled after places like tiki originator Trader Vic's and The Sunken Harbor Club in Brooklyn, New York.
The couple presented their idea at a local 1 Million Cups networking event in November. Now, they’ve been transforming their location -- posting sneak peeks to social media -- and are getting closer to opening.
What we are excited about is that it's really been a community project," she said.
The drinks will be made with all fresh produce and juices. The cocktail menu will include tiki favorites like Pain Killers and Mai Tais, as well as Lost & Found originals. They said that they’re using their creativity to create a true, escapist retreat. They hope to make an opening announcement in the coming weeks.
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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Immersive, escapist tiki bar coming to downtown Wilmington
