I think these two might go check it out since the owner is a big doodle lover. Might get some free extra stuff in the process 
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I think the one in the background also heard about the store and got excited too
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I was gonna report they basically looked done and got a shipment of barstools the other day. But sweet, didnāt expect a soft opening tomorrow!
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MAYbe
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I went to New Anthem this evening, and although Iām withholding judgement until the real opening, I wasnāt super impressed. The beer was very good, but the atmosphere was not. Virtually no decorations and no music. Little outside seating, though people were using the seating leftover from JLights. The menu had the names of beer but no descriptions for what kind of beer they were, which made ordering difficult. They also were having problems with their taps, which Iām sure will be fixed.
Like I said the beer was good, so there is a lot of potential if they can improve the atmosphere, but as is itās not someplace I can see myself spending lots of time at.
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Thanks for checking it out and reporting back anyways. Honestly I donāt love their beer as far as I remember. Has that swampy dirty taste that a lot of coastal beer does. I was hoping theyād have a cool enough space that Iād be distracted, and that it would activate the fairly dead Smoky Hollow area. Hopefully they get better.
Also, I know it might seem harsh, but you might want to provide that feedback to them directly as well. Part of a soft opening is to see what works and what doesnāt, and they (and we) want them to be successful.
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Interesting - Iāve always really like Wilmington Brewing Companyās beers. Salty Turtleās definitely matches up with that description though. Iāll have to see what I think about New Anthem!
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Agreed @Mgwolf - if anything, they would probably really appreciate the honest feedback before they have their full-on GRAND opening, rather than the usual āoh itās great!ā that most people will give (because nobody LIKES being the ābearer of bad newsā - but businesses truly NEED it)
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Me, complaining about the ambiance to the owner: āYouāre welcomeā
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I also went yesterday ā full disclosure, Iām from ENC and a New Anthem fan ā and a bartender mentioned to me that they were not really prepared for the volume they saw yesterday, which was their first soft-open afternoon. A good problem to have. They have indoor and outdoor seating and both were capped when I arrived, with people taking every table underneath J Lights (RIP).
I see what you mean about the atmosphere. I think some basic art on the walls, and not having every light on full blast, will do wonders for them. The same bartender also mentioned theyāre going to have music and events regularly.
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Thatās basically how the one in Downtown Wilimington is. Very, very bland. But I think the beer is decent.
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Did anyone take photos of New Anthem to share so that we understand the blandness? The thing about blank slate spaces is that they can be personalized over time. Maybe New Anthem should think in those terms?
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Iāll try to convince @GucciLittlePenguin to go down there tomorrow afternoon to check it out 
, and Iāll take pictures if no one else has yet.
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āYou suck. Thought that info might be helpful to ya.ā
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Oh jesus christ, yeah that is. ā¦ particularily sterile. Not even in a āsleek, modernā way - just more so in a āwe just JUST finished the interior work and thatās where this endsā way lmao
to add: Iām getting pretty sick of seeing those generic ass metal stools in every food and drink establishment in America hahahahaha - at least get some fun colored ones, UGH.
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Thereās a bit more going on to the left of the shot, but yeah, like I mentioned ā art on the walls will help immensely. Itās a bigger space that I pictured from outside during construction.
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maybe even a paint color
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