Sellwood, OR, June 11, 2021 – On June 14, 2021, the Portland Bottle Shop will celebrate its 10th anniversary. For owners Emily and Travis Motter, life looks much different now than it did on opening day in June 2011. For one, the Motters now have two children. The Bottle Shop has doubled in size with an incredibly supportive and creative staff. And the business weathered a global pandemic while planning a new location in collaboration with Upright Brewing in North Portland.
The one thing that has never changed is their appreciation for their loyal customers and the continued support of the Portland Bottle Shop.
“It’s been a wild ten years,” Travis Motter says. “It’s always been a dream of mine to open a shop that serves easy eating food and great wine in an approachable way, but I could never have imagined the overwhelming amount of support we have received from our community.”
Since the beginning, the community has welcomed the Bottle Shop with open arms, and the Motters have worked hard to keep that same neighborhood vibe alive and well for ten years. Their dedicated staff team has been essential to ensuring customers feel like friends when they patronize the Bottle Shop.
Before the pandemic, fun and lively events contributed to the community atmosphere, including weekly Friday night wine tastings, beer tastings, live music, and special seasonal dinners, along with a lot of sidewalk chalk for the little ones.
The business expanded in 2016, taking up space next door and allowing for the addition of a full kitchen and a substantial increase in their seating capacity. Menu items went from a minimal offering of cheeses and meats to sandwiches, salads and house-made tapas to share.
Like many small businesses, the Bottle Shop had to shift and change models when the pandemic began. They promised their employees, some of which have company health policies, that they would never give up. With the fantastic support of the community, they kept their doors open the entire time.
They took their Friday night tasting virtual and named it “Hey, What’s That Guy Drinking,” they started offering beer and wine delivery and food and switched up their menu to provide more takeout-friendly options.
“Like everyone else, we got creative, but out of that, some great opportunities have come our way,” says Motter. “There were times I wasn’t sure if we would make it to 10, but here we are, and things are looking brighter.”
That bright future includes indoor shopping and dining once again for the Bottle Shop’s patrons. A new space coming soon in North Portland that will feature some crowd favorites like the Turkey BLT and the Italian Cold Cut. And a fresh take on the once Virtual Friday night wine tastings, through a YouTube channel aptly named, “Hey, What’s That Guy Drinking?”
Motter says, “This business has been more than just a job for us. Over the last ten years, our customers have become family. There have been proposals and weddings. Babies born, kids growing up, folks moving away, and others moving in. It has been an amazing ride, and from everyone at the Portland Bottle Shop, we look forward to another ten years.”
Contact Information:
Emily Motter, Co-Owner
The Portland Bottle Shop
(503) 544-6559
About The Portland Bottle Shop:
Located in the heart of Sellwood in SE Portland, The Portland Bottle Shop specializes in hand-crafted sandwiches, East Coast inspired subs, soups and salads, plus a broad selection of specialty beers and fine wine. With over 400 wines at every price point from all over the world and 200 craft and specialty beers and ciders, the Portland Bottle Shop is sure to have something for everyone.
You must be logged in to post a comment.