Marlys and Chuck Aspinwall moved from the Seattle area to Tri-Cities, Washington, right before the pandemic. Like many people, the pandemic years caused them to reassess their relationship with alcohol. They quit drinking right before Christmas of 2021 and opened Kindred Spirits, their nonalcoholic bar and bottle shop, soon after. I visited the store in downtown Richland on book club night as part of my Pacific Northwest book tour promoting my Sober Travel Handbook. Marlys sat down with me to tell me about this friendly store full of delicious NA products.
Teresa: Tell me about opening your store.
Marlys: We just started looking at alcohol-free products, and saw that this was becoming a huge movement. Chuck’s always wanted to be an entrepreneur, so we went ahead and decided to open up the shop. We started out at a public market in downtown Kennewick, and we were there for about seven months. We were in like a 12 by 12 cage area. (laughs) And just to kind of see the response, and we did really well down there. So we started looking for a storefront, and here we are. We’ve been here now four years, I believe, going on five years.
Teresa: Who are your customers?
Marlys: Wide range. We have older people who no longer can do [alcohol with their] medications. We have women who are pregnant, or have small kids, they don’t want to have the aftereffects. And then, of course, you have your customers that are just so thankful that you’re here because now they feel that they can be a part of a social event, because they can now have a nice drink in their hand.
Teresa: All ages then, from young to old?
Marlys: We will only sell to 18 and above, but yeah, all ages. And we just kind of set that limit because somebody 16 comes in and goes home with a bottle of wine, which looks like a bottle of wine with alcohol. We just didn’t want to set that type of stigma.
Teresa: Or deal with their parents?
Marlys: Or deal with the parents, yeah, yeah. And then we have options for people who feel triggered, and those are the botanicals that we like to recommend.
Teresa: So what are your top sellers?
Marlys: In botanicals, probably right now is The Pathfinder or the Tenneyson. Pathfinder just came out with smaller premade drinks, so you can buy those as well. Kava is really popular. It’s the Kava Haven we can’t keep in stock, so we had to order extra just so we can always have it in. And then there are premade drinks as well. Curious Elixirs is pretty popular. And then in our spirits, probably the Free Spirits is the most popular of spirits that we sell. Of course, then there’s the spiritless Kentucky 74 and, yeah, that’s pretty popular as well. We got a new couple of vodkas in. CleanCo, they have a new vodka which has been selling really well.
And our wine. During Christmas, we had an open house, and we opened up about 20 bottles of wines. Missing Thorn is a really nice wine. And then ISH wine. ISH has been around for a long time, but I think they’ve revamped their wine, because I remember when we first bought it, I didn’t really care for it, but now it tastes a lot better. But you know now that alcohol free has been around a while, I think they’re stepping up and figuring out how to make things taste better. And then champagnes. My favorite is the Prima Pave. We sell that one a lot. And then Jøyus is another one, which is out of Seattle.
Teresa: And so you have some events too. This is your second book club night now, right?
Marlys: Second book club. I had a customer come in who wanted more support, and she asked if she could head up a book club here. And I said, absolutely. So we’ve been reading Annie Grace’s book, Live Naked, Alcohol Free. And then we do a paint and sip once a month. And a gal that we found she has a huge following, so we usually have done really well with those. We’re doing a sober single date night. So, yeah, they come in and meet different singles.
And then we and then we do a lot for our nonprofits in the community as well, particularly one which is called Elijah Family Homes. It’s a local nonprofit for women who are in recovery, and it helps support their kids as well. And I’m actually on the board for that one. And we’re currently working with a nonprofit called Mirror Ministries. They work with women who are trafficked, and so they’re having a huge gala in May. So we are the bevvy sponsor, and so we’re really looking forward to that, because we’re setting up two different bars and providing alcohol-free drinks.
Teresa: Oh, that’s really cool. Are they going to have an alcohol bar, too? Or is the whole event alcohol-free?
Marlys: It’s all alcohol-free.
Teresa: That’s really nice. I love seeing that. Especially when it has to do with that kind of vice, like often trafficking is mixed up with drugs and stuff. So that’s a nice clean precedent for them to set.
Marlys: And Elijah Family Homes is the same way, its no alcohol whatsoever.
Teresa: Yeah, that’s so often a factor in domestic violence.
Marlys: Yeah, yeah. So, so anyway, so we just feel really proud that we can be of support to our community and just give back that way. You know, I tell people, it started out as a way for us to have financial security, for us to start out a small business. But it hasn’t quite turned out to that. But it’s turned out to be a lot more because we’re able to give back to the community. And, you know, people walk through our doors, and we just are very open with them that if they need to talk we’re here for them, or give them support in a place that they can go to and feel valued.
Teresa: Yeah, it means a lot. It’s not a good way of getting rich, but it means a lot. It’s like my book mission. I’m not going to get rich on this book, but I like being part of this big movement promoting sobriety.
Marlys: Yeah, yeah. I feel really proud.
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What is Kindred Spirits in Richland, Washington?
Kindred Spirits is a nonalcoholic bar and bottle shop located in downtown Richland, Washington. The shop offers alcohol-free beverages, NA spirits, nonalcoholic wine, botanicals, premade drinks, and community events.
Who owns Kindred Spirits?
Kindred Spirits was opened by Marlys and Chuck Aspinwall after they moved from the Seattle area to the Tri-Cities and reassessed their relationship with alcohol during the pandemic.
Where is Kindred Spirits located?
Kindred Spirits is located in downtown Richland, Washington, part of the Tri-Cities region in southeastern Washington.
What are the Tri-Cities in Washington?
The Tri-Cities are Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. They are located in southeastern Washington near the Columbia, Snake, and Yakima rivers.
What is a sober bar?
A sober bar is a social space where people can gather, connect, and enjoy well-made drinks without alcohol. Sober bars often serve nonalcoholic cocktails, NA spirits, alcohol-free wine, beer alternatives, botanicals, and functional beverages.
What kind of drinks does Kindred Spirits sell?
Kindred Spirits sells a variety of alcohol-free beverages, including botanicals, NA spirits, premade drinks, nonalcoholic wines, sparkling options, and alcohol-free cocktail alternatives. Popular brands mentioned include The Pathfinder, Tenneyson, Kava Haven, Curious Elixirs, Free Spirits, Kentucky 74, CleanCo, Prima Pavé, Jøyus, Missing Thorn, and ISH.
Who shops at a nonalcoholic bottle shop?
Customers include people in recovery, sober-curious shoppers, pregnant people, people taking medication, parents with young kids, health-conscious consumers, and anyone who wants a beautiful drink without the effects of alcohol.
Does Kindred Spirits host events?
Yes. Kindred Spirits hosts alcohol-free events such as book club nights, paint-and-sip events, and sober singles nights. The shop also supports local nonprofits and alcohol-free community gatherings.
Why are nonalcoholic bars becoming popular?
Nonalcoholic bars are becoming popular because more people want social spaces that do not revolve around alcohol. They offer the fun, flavor, and ritual of going out while making room for people who are sober, sober-curious, health-conscious, or simply taking a break from drinking.
Is Kindred Spirits a good stop for sober travelers?
Yes. Kindred Spirits is a great sober travel stop in Richland, Washington, especially for visitors exploring the Tri-Cities. It offers alcohol-free drinks, local community connection, and a welcoming place to socialize without alcohol.
