Somehow, the visual stimulation gets even more intense outside, where a sprawling backyard (a more appropriate term than a back patio) houses an untold number of nooks and crannies for sequestered drinking surrounded by signage that seems to have come from every failed or refreshed business within 20 miles. The Coastal Carolina Eye Clinic’s one-time sign has found its final resting place at The Fat Pelican, alongside local luminaries like Wilmington Air and Maxine’s Barbershop (try to catch them all).
Of course, a beached ship commands the most attention in the outdoor space, an elevated platform that on this reviewer’s visit looked to be shaping up into a DJ booth, a trivia night, a karaoke setup or perhaps some dive bar combination of the three. Corrugated metal wall coverings, cornhole boards, Jersey Mike’s-branded surfboards, there is really no end to the Island of Dr. Moreau-style accumulation of misfit toys repurposed into friendly drinking companions.
Any more description of the interior or exterior spaces would risk serving as a spoiler as simply taking it all in is probably the biggest joy that comes from visiting The Fat Pelican. To do so with a beer in hand is kind of a bonus as is the claw game in the back room just in case a day of drinking has sparked the thrill for a stuffed animal-focused game of chance (strong possibility).
It’s hard to find a flaw in The Fat Pelican, the perfect mix of beach, beer and dive housing what feels like the densest, most interesting collection of North Carolina signage outside of some American Pickers-style rural barn. The walk-in cooler, besides offering a welcome blast of cool air, adds a little theater to the show that surrounds it, creating a completely unique North Carolina dive bar experience.