A bottle shop has opened in Marysville at a time when you can’t saddle up to a bar for a pint.
The Republic Bottleshop opened on April 24 at 9414 State Ave. It boasts a collection of hundreds of bottles and cans of beer, cider and seltzer, plus 11 beers on tap. During the stay-home order, everything is to-go and available either by pick-up or delivery.
The owners — Doug Hall, Jeff Sadighi and TJ Borden — had been searching for a commercial spot in Marysville for years before finding one and deciding to open a store.
With just two breweries in Marysville — 5 Rights on Third Street and Whitewall on Smokey Point Boulevard — they knew the city was in the market for more craft beer, cider and seltzer. The Republic Bottleshop on State Avenue is Marysville’s first and only bottle shop.
“There’s a craft beer void,” Borden said. “There are only two breweries in Marysville, and the breweries that are here are killing it, so it was apparent that Marysville was ready for a good craft beer shop. We decided to take the risk and be the first.”
The owners agree that during a pandemic isn’t an ideal time to open, but where the governor’s shutdown has closed Washington bars and restaurants, the Republic Bottleshop offers a collection of beer to-go in bottles, cans and on draft.
“When the pandemic hit, we were more than halfway done with construction,” Hall said. “The only real way forward was just to keep going. This is definitely not the ideal situation to open, but that’s kind of our option right now.”
They were pleasantly surprised to see that a line had formed on opening day, made longer because of the 6-feet rule.
Hall and Sadighi also own the Independent Beer Bar on Hewitt Avenue in downtown Everett. The Indepedent’s been in business for three years. Borden, known for The Great American Beer Quest on Instagram, is a “regular” at the Independent.
“The Republic is focused on reasonably priced, really good beer as an alternative to grocery stores,” Hall said. “We’re trying to bring in beers that the chains just don’t know about. We’re specialized.”
The Republic Bottleshop’s selection reflects the Northwest’s love for brewing. More than half of the beer the store sells is local.
On April 24, the Republic’s beer list included taps from locals such as At Large and Skookum, cans from Diamond Knot, and bottles from Great Notion, Level and de Garde.
If your local favorite isn’t available in bottles or cans, you can choose to fill either a 64-ounce growler or a 32-ounce mason jar on tap.
The owners have taken the necessary virus precautions at their new business. They check IDs at the door and limit it to just three customers in the store at a time. They have marked the aisles with tape to remind customers to keep a safe distance.
“They’ll put their beer up on the counter, take a step back, we’ll come up and scan it, and then take a step back, and they’ll come up and pay and take their beer,” Hall said. “It’s a little clunky, but we’re trying to make everybody feel as safe as we can.”
When the coronavirus is no longer a threat, the Republic Bottleshop also will serve up pints in its taproom that seats 30 and features up to 18 beers on tap. Borden, who has a construction background, built the Republic’s bar.
“We’re already building up the local clientele and support,” Borden said. “Everyody seems thrilled to have a new spot so close, so they don’t have to drive to other cities to find craft beer.”
If you go
The Republic Bottleshop, 9414 State Ave., Suite G, Marysville, is open noon to 6 p.m. for pick-up and then delivers from 6 to 8 p.m. daily. Delivery limited to Marysville and north Everett. Order online at www.marysville.beer.
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