A one-of-a-kind craft spirit experience is coming to Downtown Bonita Springs. Craft Spirits Social is currently under construction in the Entrada Plaza on Old 41 and Bonita Beach Road.
Beth “Dutton” comes from a family that sold packaging material to distillers. During her experience with her family’s business, she learned just how hard it is for independent distillers to get their spirits to retail. After prohibition, the United States created the three-tier spirits distribution system, and little has changed since.
Distillers must go through a distributor to get into retail, which is not as easy as it sounds. There are different levels of distributors, and though the biggest have the most retail accounts, they typically don’t represent the “little guys” very well. So, Beth “Dutton” and her husband Mark decided to shake things up.
Craft Spirits Social Tasting Room & Bottle Shop
Luckily, Mark owns a distribution company, and his wife is about to become his best customer. Craft Spirits Social will have a storefront for craft spirits and a tasting room/bar, but that’s not all. Dutton plans to open a mobile bar with seating on the concrete pad in front of Entrada and eventually, a rooftop bar above the tasting room.
The retail side is currently under construction. Muralist Summer Desalvo recently brought the bare walls to life with a colorful, old Florida mural that wraps around the room. Soon, the wall between the retail space and the neighboring unit will come down to make way for the tasting room/bar.
The upstairs units in Entrada close at 5 pm, so Dutton is working with the head of Entrada’s leasing, Steve Hovland, to create a private entrance through the adjacent stairwell, giving it a speakeasy vibe.
The couple looked at other properties, but could not pass up a spot in Downtown Bonita Springs. Craft Spirits Social will be an exciting addition to the neighborhood, and we can not wait until they open!
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