A Lounge With No Name
Photography by Megan Deitz
Tap Time founders Keith and Christa Berciunas get back into the bar game in Ocean Isle Beach.
A new lounge in Ocean Isle Beach might not have a name, but, like the legendary Cheers bar, it is one where everybody knows yours. And one with plenty of appeal to boot.
Keith and Christa Berciunas, successful, married OIB entrepreneurs who somehow seem to find more than 48 hours in a single day, have just launched their second venture into the beer, wine and custom spirits business.
Their first venture, the once-legendary Tap Time bar in the Publix shopping center, was born on July 4, 2019. And because of the owners’ dedication to good beer and good vibes, it quickly became the go-to place for many in southeastern Brunswick County. Along with various popular events like Mardi Gras, Beer Skools and wine tastings, the pub soon became a magnet for fun-loving beer nuts.
But the couple sold Tap Time, deciding it was time to seek new horizons, some of which included attention to their growing number of grandchildren.
Still, their “framily” at Tap Time kept tugging at their heartstrings. Asked why they jumped back into the bar game, Keith’s short answer was “you guys.”
“We made so many wonderful new friends at Tap Time, and we became so close to them, that Christa and I decided it was time to bring us all together again,” says Keith, who runs not only a landscape construction business, but also fishing charter business.
And so, the No Name Lounge was born. Adjacent to Subway just before the OIB bridge to the island, the new place is a remarkable combination of cozy and classy. Christa’s practiced eye for decor and Keith’s construction capabilities combined to create a space that feels very much like home. Keith mastered the plumbing for the system that delivers the current supply of 16 beers to the front of the house.
He also hand-built the bar that serves as the setting for a wide array of cocktails, craft beers and premium wines that are sure to please the palates of any who stop in.
When they do, the sharp-eyed among them will notice a tribute to none other than recently departed Norm of Cheers fame atop the cooler that houses a variety of canned craft beers not on the taps. Even the coasters display a tip of the hat to Norm’s favorite place.
No Name Lounge is a 21 and over establishment, and it does not permit smoking of any kind — including vape devices — which was a tad disappointing for yours truly. I’d have relished an opportunity to enjoy a quality cigar in the comfy, warm confines of Christa’s “parlor.”
There is, however, outside seating for those who so desire it, and plans to build a larger patio out back are already extant.
On the date of my visit to the soft opening, the bar area was filled with a small group of special invitees from the “Inner Sanctum” of the Amen Corner, a group of diehard beer and camaraderie lovers who formed in the Tap Time era. “Cardinal” Jimmy Eller declared that the No Name Lounge would now be the permanent meeting place for what he called “our Choir Practices.”
The No Name Lounge, so called because the owners could not figure out a better name after numerous attempts, officially opened for business on July 7, 2025. And like its predecessor, it’s easy to get to.
Unless you decide to go on a Friday night “in season” when the traffic for the free OIB concerts begins to back up. Then you may have to use “local knowledge” to get around to the back entrance.
Because arriving safely at the No Name Lounge is totally worth it.
Not only are the decor welcoming and the beer and cocktail choices exceptional, everyone knew my name.
And they’ll get to know yours.
WANT TO GO?
No Name Lounge
113 Causeway Drive, Ocean Isle Beach
nonameloungeoib.com
Facebook: @No Name Lounge
Instagram: @nonameloungeoib
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