By Trevor Helms
The Wingate Social House, a first-of-its-kind bar in the town of Wingate, is preparing to open up its doors shortly after the turn of the new year, perhaps as soon as February.
The idea for the Social House was developed by Wingate University alums Bill and Dayna Irby, who are eager to give back to their former college community in a way that they say will enrich the experience of students and locals alike.
“What we’re looking for is for a place to bring students, faculty and the community together, just have a place that has a sense of community and fun,” Dayna said. “It’s a place to go and listen to music and watch a game that’s not in the dorm or a campus building.”
It’s no secret that Wingate is a small town without many places nearby for students to go and hang out together off campus. During weekends, many of the campus facilities close early, leaving students without anywhere to go besides their rooms later in the evening.
Students and locals alike have to drive to nearby Monroe or into Mecklenburg County to find a spot to socialize or celebrate. This can especially be a problem for individuals who either do not have a car or those who are age 21 and plan on drinking.
The Social House will be located just off campus at 204 N. Main St. adjacent to the Campus Safety office in the old fire station. It will be close enough to walk to and be outfitted with bike and scooter racks to increase accessibility for those traveling without a car.
The Social House will have two main components: a taproom with several alcoholic beverages and an alcohol-free patio that will have an assortment of drink options, including coffees and sodas.
The taproom, which will be set up sports-bar style with 10 TVs and several game tables, will feature a line of Wingate-themed drinks branded under the new “Wingate Beer Company” name. “Lyceum Lager” and “74 and Hazy” will be among the beverages featured that are named after places and things most Wingate students and residents should be all too familiar with.
There are also plans in the future to partner with the university to host live watch parties of the school’s sporting events, giving the college community a place to get together to support the Bulldogs when they’re playing on the road.
While the taproom in itself will be a first for Wingate, it will by no means be the centerpiece of the Social House.
The patio and alcohol-free zone on the side of the facility will be a spot where anyone and everyone, regardless of whether they drink or not, can gather to hang out and find something to do.
The Irbys are planning for different events and themes throughout the week that include live music, open-mic nights, trivia contests, karaoke events and college nights. There are also plans to include activities and games such as cornhole and bocce ball.
There will be no food for sale at the time that the Social House opens, but guests are encouraged to bring their own food if they choose to do so. Food trucks will also be available some nights.
Perhaps the main vision of the Irbys’ is that the opening of the Social House will help forge lasting local connections, a major driving point in their thinking to start this new venture.
“We want to give back because the university means so much to us, and we loved our time there and made some really strong connections and friendships,” Dayna said. “We want that for everyone else too, to form those friendships with someone who might not live in the same dorm as you or have classes with you, growing that connection with the community as well. That’s how networking works and that’s how friendships are made, connections are met.”
Many of the drink options to be had are sourced from local vendors. The initial dining options will be provided by local food-truck operators. Live music will be performed by local musicians, and events such as karaoke and trivia will be designed to encourage community involvement.
The Social House’s branding is styled after the university, represented by blue and gold colors and the Wingate Bulldog mascot. Many of the ideas and events planned for the future will also have a Wingate spin on them, giving students and residents a place to connect over shared interests.
Many students are looking forward to the opening of the Social House and hoping for its success, excited for the prospects of what it might bring to the town.
“I think it sounds cool,” said WU freshman Matthew Puga. “Especially with how close it is to the school and how it’s going to be open later than other places on campus, hopefully it will produce a fun environment and be a nice place to hang out.”
The positive response on social media and by word of mouth has encouraged the Irbys, and they look forward to finally opening their doors to the public shortly after the spring semester begins. The tentative opening date is expected to be sometime in February.
Wingate Triangle 