A Great New Community Venue is Coming Soon to Vashon

Today I’m excited to be joined by a special guest, Cliff Goodman. Cliff is the proprietor of Vashon Brewing. He’s a great businessman and an even better brewer, so I wanted to take a chance to talk with him about what he does, how he got started, and his future plans.

Cliff got started homebrewing decades ago, doing it on and off for years. About seven years ago, his wife asked if he would be interested in selling some of his beer at an auction she was helping to host. He agreed, and his beer sold very well.

A lot of people told him afterwards that they were disappointed about not being able to try his beer, since it sold out so quickly. On top of that, the people who did win the beer absolutely loved it.

“I encourage you to attend the Vashon Brewing Community Pub Preview Party. Click here to RSVP.”

At that time, Cliff was ready for a change in his career. He had a degree in business administration and had been working as an accountant in Seattle. After a while doing that, it was time for a change of direction. Coincidentally, the craft brewing trend was really starting to gain traction. So, Cliff decided to pursue it. He started putting together business plans, and things began to fall into place.

Cliff said that Vashon looked like the perfect place to start, so he took a leap of faith and began his a nanobrewery. According to an industry publication, there were only 65 nanobreweries in all of North America at that time. Since then, the industry has grown quite a bit. But, Cliff’s is pretty much the only one on the island. The next step is opening up a tasting room at the village green, but that he really enjoys running a small operation and loves working here on Vashon.

The working name for the new space is the Vashon Brewing Community Pub. He had the option of starting up a tavern or a restaurant with a beer and wine license. He wanted the space to be family-friendly, so he opted for the latter. Still, Cliff doesn’t consider himself a restaurateur. This is the first area where “community” comes into the name. Rather than starting his own restaurant, he is partnering with an existing restaurant.

This took a big weight off his shoulders, since running a brewery is a lot of work. Opening up this new facility opens up an entirely new set of responsibilities. That’s why he’s leveraging support to the community, as well as creating a project that will contribute back to the community. What started out as an overwhelming project has since become much more manageable.

The idea behind this facility is to create a space where you can order small plates, but doesn’t replicate a traditional restaurant. This way, the focus isn’t detracted from the beer, either. According to Cliff, the experience he wants to create is more European in nature. He wants his customer to be able to set the pace. Cliff also mentioned hoping to perhaps convert the outdoor space into a venue and beer garden. So far though, this part of the project is just an idea.

The Vashon Brewing Community Pub is set to open March 1st of 2018, but still has some permitting left to take care of before then. If you’re interested in getting a sneak peak, I encourage you to attend the Vashon Brewing Community Pub Preview Party. RSVP to that event by clicking here.

I personally can’t wait. By partnering with other community members, Cliff is going to be able to partner with some amazing artisans on the island. The island has an amazing array of talented people, including artists of all types.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.