Market House Beer & Wine Brings New Life to Old Wilmington City Market
Market House Beer & Wine
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Market House Beer & Wine 〰️
Over the past 200 years, Downtown Wilmington has undergone tremendous change. With time, this evolution has made some areas of the city unrecognizable from its origins.
But if you look closer, those original elements will begin to show themselves, albeit quietly. Few places embody this more than the Old Wilmington City Market.
A place that started as a public city market in 1880, transformed into a civic gathering space in the early 1900’s, sat unused for decades until being converted into retail space in the 2000’s - is finding a new identity once again, this time through Market House Beer & Wine.
When Sydney Shopp walked into the space of what was supposed to soon be the newest bar in the Old Wilmington City Market, she was less than impressed. Exposed walls and a makeshift plywood table didn’t necessarily scream, “new bar looking to open its doors soon”.
A wine rep at the time, Sydney quickly chatted with owners Knox Harris, Nick Cole, and Josh Benson to possibly fulfill some future orders. 20 minutes after leaving, she received a text - simply reading “Want to be a manager here?”
The stunning view of the Cape Fear River.
Sydney jumped on board and immediately got to work assisting the build out of the bar and bottle shop. Tucked at the end of the Old Wilmington City Market overlooking the Wilmington Riverwalk and Cape Fear River, the space had a tremendous amount of promise in becoming something special. And once the space began to take form, it did just that.
The chic, open air environment gives a taste of European leisure with the easygoing and unpretentious mark of true southern hospitality. The atmosphere is comfortable enough to grab a casual drink with a friend, but also aesthetic enough to be the perfect backdrop for a date night.
While Market House does operate as a “bar”, it also aims to satisfy the lack of proper “bottle shops” in the area. The goal is to be a place you can either pop in to quickly grab a six pack/bottle of your favorite beer or wine, or hangout for a drink in the shop itself.
The menu boasts a massive selection of beer, and according to Sydney, “the wine list of her dreams”. Offerings also include THC drinks, and non alcoholic options.
With everything ready for launch, Market House opened their doors on November 7th, 2024. However, sometimes the biggest challenge isn’t just creating an incredible space, it’s getting people to walk through the doors to experience it firsthand.
As the Market House Beer & Wine team trudged through a slow, and at times, even painful winter - things slowly started falling in place. Though they didn’t recognize in the moment, processes and practices were being ironed out to set up the success lurking on the horizon.
“The slow days gave us a chance to really lean into our customers, build connections, and dial in our process,” says Sydney. “We didn't realize how important that was at the time, but it made a huge difference in the long run.”
Sydney notes that good customer service isn’t about over the top gestures, it’s the little things that make a difference. Refilling someone’s water during a rush, knowing a local’s drink order, or simply saying “Hello!” to a customer as soon as they walk in, kept people returning to Market House many times after their first visit.
“It has been an eye opening experience seeing the response. People will truly care and come back if you let them. We try to do this by creating a real community space.”
Fast forward a few months, and as Wilmington slowly came back to life for spring and summer in 2025, the Market House team suddenly found themselves exceeding their goals and building a community. Their intimate and cozy bar space was soon filled with patrons regularly, and word travelled quickly about the best place to grab a bev on the banks of the Cape Fear River.
After a successful first year, the Market House team decided to expand their space. Losing the carefully crafted aesthetic of the cozy bar was certainly a concern of Sydney’s. However, after knocking out a wall and expanding the bar seating the shop reopened, without sacrificing the atmosphere customers have come to love.
“I absolutely love our space. It is so intimate and special, and really makes people feel at home.”
Downtown Wilmington is known as one of the most vibrant collection of small businesses in the Wilmington area. Every street is lined with local bars, restaurants, and shops - something Sydney says she is proud to be a part of. The team looks forward to continuing to build relationships with many businesses that also operate downtown.
“So many small business owners genuinely look to support other small businesses in the area. It’s incredible to be a part of that community.”
The original Wilmington City Market wasn’t simply a place where people bought goods - it was a place of community and the town social center. A place people came to connect with their fellow citizens and colleagues, friends and family.
Market House Beer & Wine has created a space built for a similar connection. Whether it is a conversation with a bartender, someone sitting at another table, or simply the person you came with - community thrives here, all in the company of a great glass of wine and a view that can’t be beat.
As downtown continues its everlasting evolution, Market House Beer & Wine is a prime example of how historic buildings can be repurposed to usher in new chapters in the Port City, and how we can experience that change too.
Plaque commemerating the original “City Market House” is mounted on the adjacent facade of the shop space.