TO DIVE FOR: THE FAT PELICAN | CAROLINA BEACH | NC

A rare bird

TO DIVE FOR | THE FAT PELICAN | CAROLINA BEACH, NC

WORDS AND PHOTO BY MAJSAN BOSTRÖM Anyone who starts the about-section on their website with “The Legend of the Fat Pelican started in 1986” deserves a prize. It’s been named one of America’s top-ten “Diviest Dive Bars” and the number one dive bar in North Carolina and the eclectic beer garden has won both hearts and awards.

The walk-in beer cooler is the refrigerated trailer of an old 18-wheeler, where you can choose from more than 400 different beers, hard ciders, and seltzers. Out back, in the beer garden, people can chill on hand-made furniture, play corn hole or ring toss.

“Locals call it ‘Beach Trailer-Park Chic’,” says beer-tender, Bess, and gestures toward the sandy patio, where recycled film props and old restaurant signs, are strewn about tables and chairs.

Other locals have called the shack-like structure an eyesore.

Despite being built from a garage that partially burned down in 1951, The Fat Pelican has withstood over 50 named storms and hurricanes including Fran, Floyd and Florence. Located on the main drag of Carolina Beach, there’s only a boardwalk and an amusement park between the bar and the Atlantic Ocean.

The names of thousands of tourists, local luminaries and famous actors are permanently scribbled onto the weathered wood, and everything else that’s been bolted down.

“People were a little disappointed that they just wrote ‘Crew of Hot Stuff,’ when the cast for Outer Banks were here shooting that video,” Bess says about Kygo’s 2020-remix of Donna Summer’s sultry disco banger from the seventies. She has worked on and off at the Pelican for 20 years and speaks of the establishment as if it was her own.

Like any other place, it wouldn’t be a dive bar without its people—both patrons and personnel.

The manager, Robin, is 60 and calls everyone “Baby” in a southern drawl that’s as beautiful as she is.

The owner, Danny, takes a break.

THE MANAGER, ROBIN, IS 60 AND CALLS EVERYONE “BABY” IN A SOUTHERN DRAWL THAT’S AS BEAUTIFUL AS SHE IS. BUT BEWARE: HER QUICK WIT IS NOT TO BE UNDERESTIMATED. AND TOO-DRUNK PUNKS BETTER NOT CATCH AN ATTITUDE, OR SHE’LL THROW THEIR SASSY ASSES OUT ON THE PAVEMENT.

But beware: her quick wit is not to be underestimated. And too-drunk punks better not catch an attitude, or she’ll throw their sassy asses out on the pavement.

The patrons come from near and far, anyone from a curly-mustached Brooklyn kid looking for that specialty brew, to locals like David, who insists on drinking his Rolling Rocks straight from the bottle. Or the couple in their seventies, who come in just to smoke so their children won’t find out. And it wouldn’t be Friday if Amy didn’t play American Girl with Tom Petty on the jukebox. Most of the regulars have been quenching their thirsts at the “Fat P” for more than 30 years. The loudest is Aaron. Only a teething infant could match his squeal as the tall shadow of Cole falls upon the door, because Aaron knows he’ll get his butt kicked on the bowling machine.

But perhaps most colorful of all characters is owner, Danny McLaughlin, who these days is seen on the premises more often with a drill than a Heineken in his hand. Danny did two tours in Vietnam. Later became a roadie for major bands like Van Halen and Aerosmith, and somehow got himself in a jam so big some New Jersey wise guys sent a hit man after him. Obviously, tales like that pair well with a Daycation IPA, or a Shark & Stormy Lager.

THEFATPELICAN.COM

Bess and Robin are running the show at The Fat Pelican.