A Tumwater distillery shifts gears, and an Olympia music venue explores a new home
A little more than a year ago, Ray Watson and Lesa Givens, co-owners of Olympia Distilling Co. in Tumwater, announced they had gone into business with Pabst Brewing Co. to manufacture Olympia Vodka, using Tumwater artesian well water from a well at Tumwater Valley Golf Course.
Now, it’s essentially their show after they signed a licensing agreement with Pabst this month that allows them to control all aspects of the brand, including not just manufacturing, but also marketing, sales and distribution.
“It was our baby, but it wasn’t really our baby,” Givens said this week.
Other elements of the business will remain the same, such as their location at 2442 Mottman Road SW where they produce the vodka and a small batch gin through a separate business called Shoebox Spirits, previously known as Blind Pig Spirits when they were based in downtown Olympia.
Olympia Vodka is now distributed in three states — Washington, Oregon and California — and is sold at stores large and small, such as Fred Meyer, Safeway and Rite Aid, or T-Brothers Liquor Lodge in downtown Olympia or Grand Mound Liquor & Beverage.
The pandemic has turned the roll out of a new beverage on its head, Givens said. Typically, a new vodka would be sold through bars and restaurants to build brand awareness before moving on to retailers. But during the pandemic, restaurants and bars were closed so they focused on distributing to stores, she said.
“We have a lot to do in this area,” said Givens about selling to bars and restaurants.
Other goals for the business in 2022: To have the vodka product in three additional states, to launch a flavored vodka and to make the Olympia Vodka brand available for tasting through its relationship with Hoh River Brewery. Olympia Distilling leases space from Hoh River Brewery at the Mottman Road address and they have a joint tasting room.
Givens said they are aiming to making Olympia Vodka available for tasting March 1.
They also hope to hire. Right now Olympia Vodka is three people: Watson, Givens and one full-time employee, Andy Ducro.
Other business happenings
Harbor Freight Tools is set to open its new store in Yelm on Feb. 5.
The store at 906 Yelm Ave. is the 31st Harbor Freight Tools store in Washington. The store will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
The store will stock a selection of tools and equipment in categories including automotive, air and power tools, storage, outdoor power equipment, generators, welding supplies, shop equipment and hand tools.
In the works
The downtown bar and music venue known as Rhythm & Rye, previously located on Capitol Way North in Olympia, is exploring a new home at 514 Jefferson St. SE, which is the Fish Brewing Co. building, according to city of Olympia information.
The city information provides the following narrative about the proposal:
“The purpose of this project is to create a music venue with bar, restaurant, office, storage and green room,” the narrative reads. “The proposed venue will accommodate approximately 300 occupants. The project will utilize the building’s existing infrastructure where possible. For example, there are existing sprinkler system, plumbing infrastructure to create bathrooms, gas infrastructure to current heaters to be used for updated HVAC.”
The new owners of Fish Brewing Co. told The Olympian in August that although Fish Tale Brew Pub was staying put at its Jefferson Street location, the brewery was set to move.
If you know of a retailer, restaurant, coffee shop or other business that is opening, closing, expanding, remodeling, or changing its focus, send an email to reporter Rolf Boone at rboone@theolympian.com.
This story was originally published January 21, 2022 at 5:45 AM with the headline "A Tumwater distillery shifts gears, and an Olympia music venue explores a new home."
