Wilmington’s The Eagle’s Dare facing fines due to weekly concert series, hopeful to find a solution in the near future

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A popular spot in downtown Wilmington has been getting fined for hosting free music concerts. 

The Eagle’s Dare is on N. 3rd Street. It’s known for its weekly concert series, but local laws are making it a struggle to sustain it because of fines. The owner said the show must go on. 

“It’s been a slow progression to having an amendment change or proposing a code amendment change,” The Eagle’s Dare Operating Owner Joseph Apkarian said. 

Joseph Apkarian is the Operating Owner of The Eagle’s Dare in downtown Wilmington. He said his business was cited for holding “free outdoor concerts” without a permit. A city ordinance allows businesses to apply for two permits per year for temporary stages for events like The Eagle’s Dare was hosting. 

Apkarian is hoping city council will change the ordinance and allow the Central Business District to apply for at least 20 permits annually. He said city staff and Wilmington Downtown Incorporated are on board. 

“Even the zoning department has been supportive and has been like, ‘yes, this needs to get updated, this needs to get changed, let’s do this.’ It just takes time to do stuff and we’ve had what, the bridge, we’ve had other things. Like, there’s other things going on, I realize that. It’s on the docket for next week,” Apkarian said. 

This item will go before Wilmington City Council members at Tuesday night’s city council meeting. Apkarian is optimistic the suggested changes will be received well. 

Wilmington City Councilman Luke Waddell wants to help rectify the situation. 

“To me, what’s more important, is making sure the businesses that are investing in our community, especially the small businesses invested in our community, that we’re supporting them. We’re not overburdening them with regulation. When there are regulations that need to be changed, and often there are, we remove them completely,” Waddell said. 

Councilman Waddell said he backs Apkarian and all other downtown businesses looking to see this change and is hoping others on council will as well. 

Apkarian said he plans to round up other small businesses in support of this change for Tuesday night’s meeting to speak out on its challenges and how to combat them. In the meantime, he will continue to hold concerts, despite the fines. Currently, Apkarian said he has accrued $300 in fines.