Business owner tells stories about haunted bar

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — There are lots of places around Wilmington people believe are haunted including the Battleship and the Bellamy Mansion, but there’s a place downtown that many walk past or visit that might not realize has a spooky feeling.

Billy Batten was the owner of Charlie Brownz in Downtown Wilmington for eight years then he opened Growler’s Tavern just down the road, but even though he’s moved from one place to another he still gets that eerie feeling.

Batten says, “You go in there, it will make your hair stand up.”

“I don’t think i’m that delusional I mean you know what you hear,” said Batten.

Growler’s Tavern is located in the basement of an old masonic building and though it may be quite empty when business is closed, Batten says it’s full life.

Batten said, “I’ve come in before and lights will be moving.”

He says he has seen swinging lights, music volume fluctuating, shot glasses randomly overturn, rushes of wind, and just a feeling of unsettledness while working.

“The elevator room is creepy,” says Batten.

Batten says he notices more interaction with the other side when he changes things.

“At Charlie Brownz, I was always painting something, I was always switching something up and every time I did that, something would happen.”

Both Batten and his employees aren’t sure what or who it is, but they know it’s haunted.

“Wilmington is a haunted city, for sure,” said Batten.

There is haunted pub crawl that includes Growler’s Tavern and a few more other haunted downtown bars.