(Kym DeWitt talks about the development of the new Beer Mule on Aviation Way in Watsonville. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Pajaronian)
WATSONVILLE — Sometime in the late summer, beer lovers from far and wide will have a new option in Watsonville.
The owners of Beer Mule Bottle Shop and Pour House at 145 Aviation Way envision a place with indoor and outdoor seating, a small kitchen and an abundance of beer in several varieties, by tap and in bottle.
More importantly, the place will be a watering hole and a community gathering space where musicians perform and beer aficionados sample the drink they love.
In craft beer parlance, a beer mule is someone who brings beer to friends, particularly beer that is not typically available.
The owners plan to source beer from local brewers, and offer hundreds of varieties on a rotating basis.
Kym DeWitt owns the business with her husband Shawd, along with Olive Moredock and Craig Renfroe, who also own Beer Thirty Bottle Shop and Pour House in Soquel. That business is bustling, with a new location set to open in the Seabright neighborhood in Santa Cruz.
DeWitt said she hopes Beer Mule attracts South County beer aficionados who currently drive to the Soquel location for their libations.
“We have an opportunity to participate in keeping people within their community, spending money in their community,” DeWitt said. “Not having to leave, and providing this new space for people to just hang out and enjoy.”
The business will be a new piece in the tapestry of beer-centered businesses that have sprung up in Santa Cruz County over the past decade.
According to DeWitt, the county had six breweries when Beer Thirty opened in 2014. There are now 15, including Corralitos Brewing Co. and Elkhorn Slough Brewing Co., both in Watsonville.
“We think this is the next place for beer to blossom,” DeWitt said.
The history of the Aviation Way building is unclear. According to Pajaro Valley Historical Association archivist Lou Arbanas, it was built during WWII when Watsonville Municipal Airport was a military base, and before the city took ownership and assigned street addresses. Historical records, therefore, are difficult to come by.
DeWitt said that the owners are doing their utmost to preserve the redwood infrastructure, leaving it exposed when possible and meshing it all with a sleek, modern look.
“We wanted to bring a space to this community that reflects this community,” she said. “We feel lucky to have found this building.”
The outdoor area is bordered by a high wooden fence, and when completed will contain picnic tables, plants and an area with such games as Ping-Pong and corn hole.
DeWitt said she plans to hire local people, once the place opens.
“We want people to know that if they are here in this community and they are passionate about craft beer and good people that we want them to reach out to us for job opportunities,” she said.
The business will not only offer a way for beer enthusiasts to sample several different varieties of beer by numerous breweries, it will also offer a venue through which local breweries can reach new customers, DeWitt said.
“It’s the idea of working in synergy and promoting each other,” she said.
The kitchen will open with a light menu, with plans to get more extensive as the business finds its groove. The offerings will also depend on which businesses move in next door, DeWitt said.
Weekend brunches are a possibility, and there will also be space for a food truck. The owners are currently looking for a partner to run the food end of the establishment.
DeWitt said she developed an affinity for beer when she went on a “beer-cation” to Portland, Ore., where she visited 14 breweries and several taprooms. During that time, she said she discovered a community ambiance she wanted to duplicate at home.
At the core of it all was finding a space where people can kick back with friends, and where there is no pressure to buy, DeWitt said.
“It’s the people,” she said. “We just couldn’t believe how great we felt. Everybody was so kind and friendly and warm and welcoming. And at that time there was nothing like that in Santa Cruz.”
For information, visit www.facebook.com/TheBeerMule.
