Haus Party

Last September, KIMBERLY RHINE opened the doors of Freya’s Haus in Scott’s Hill with a vision for offering not only a social bar but also a community gathering space. A year later, she has largely realized those aspirations as the venue markets a variety of drinks and has hosted many food trucks, parties, and community classes. 

 In creating the concept behind Freya’s Haus – named for the “Norse god of love and war” and the German word for “house” – Rhine says she was inspired by the idea of “communal houses with massive tables where people coexisted. Alcohol is there, but it’s not the center of everything.” 

 Originally from Maryland, Rhine has lived in Wilmington since she started college at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She worked in various aspects of the service industry during her college years, including a stint as a bartender at Pour House. She found that she really enjoyed bartending, and she eventually worked as a traveling bartender with the PGA Tour. 

 For more than a year, Rhine often drove by the building where Freya’s Haus is now located, and she wondered about the possibility of opening a business there. Situated in a growing part of the greater Wilmington area, she thought the location, which is next to Poplar Grove Plantation, had a lot of potential. With a background in the service industry and marketing and an entrepreneurial spirit, Rhine thought the location was the perfect place to bring her vision for Freya’s Haus to life.  

 The 2,500-square-foot building “was in poor shape and needed a lot of work,” she says. While pregnant with her second child, Rhine took on the challenge of renovating the space and making it ready for the public. The new interior renovation enhanced existing features, such as the high ceilings and exposed beams, while creating an inviting environment for people to gather. 

Rhine has created a “bottle shop” feel with an ever-rotating wide selection of beer and wine. She enjoys building relationships with regular customers and adding specific products based on their requests while also encouraging them to try new things. For people who do not drink alcohol, Freya’s Haus also carries CBD- and THC-infused beverages as well as teas, juices, and other selections.  

Freya’s Haus is open to all types of community events, including birthday parties, wedding showers, and events for nonprofit organizations. They also host a wide range of community classes, such as What the Fork pasta-making classes, women’s self-defense classes, and wine and food pairings. “Class prices are reasonable, too, to make them accessible to the community,” Rhine says. 

She emphasizes that Freya’s Haus is very much a family-friendly space where her own daughters, ages four and one, can often be found running around. She maintains a collection of toys and keeps kid-friendly food and drink items in stock to make families more comfortable. 

Freya’s Haus also features a wide range of regular entertainment, such as performances by local bands and comedy shows, trivia nights, and adult spelling bees. 

Rhine has exciting plans for the future of Freya’s Haus, including adding a gourmet sandwich shop. She also wants to continue curating more events and making Freya’s Haus feel like a “relaxed version of your best friend’s living room,” she says. “There is always something cool going on.” 

To view more of photographer Daria Amato’s work, go to dariaphoto.com.

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