Mitch (left) and Marc Aparicio hang out with their biggest booster. (Photos courtesy Penn Cove Brewing Co.)
High school days, when Marc (left) and Mitch were sports stars at Coupeville High School.
Two local brothers are about to brew up some sweet changes in Coupeville.
Mitch and Marc Aparicio, stellar Wolf athletes in the late ’80s who have gone on to launch successful careers and families, have reunited and are closing in on opening Penn Cove Brewing Co.
The business, which is scheduled to have a soft opening in late Jan. and a grand opening Feb. 7, will be located in the heart of the town.
It will sit at 103 S. Main, in between Harada Physical Therapy and Whidbey Natural Pet, right across the street from the Coupeville Elementary School.
When the duo kick off their new venture, they intend to make a big splash by becoming the go-to spot for craft beer.
Working with small, local breweries across Washington State, they will offer a wide selection of craft beer, many of which are currently only available at the breweries themselves.
They also intend to eventually brew and sell their own specialty craft beer and mead (honey wine) as the business grows.
The beers, and a healthy assortment of local wines, will be paired with food, including fresh seafood plucked out of nearby Penn Cove.
Initial plans are to offer a lunch menu, as well as small food plates for happy hour and dinner.
With their food, the brothers want to appeal to students and nearby office workers looking for a quick bite on their lunch break, as well as pairing their taste concoctions with drinks for those times when people are able to kick back and let the day wash away.
The key word in all of this is “local,” as the Aparicios want to involve the community on all levels, from the products they carry to creating a place where everyone can gather.
To do that, they will be working closely with others to use their new business to help promote local artists and musicians (Mitch is the longtime drummer and founder of classic rock band Jacobs Road).
After graduating from CHS in the late ’80s, the duo went off on different paths, with Mitch heading into sales and marketing while his younger brother became a career military man.
Marc retired from the United State Coast Guard earlier this year and has returned to live on Penn Cove. He was recently hired as the new head baseball coach at his alma mater.
With Mitch back on the Island since 2000, having brought his wife (fellow CHS grad Tami Stuurmans) and daughters home, he was waiting for a full-time brotherly reunion.
Now that the duo are back in the saddle again, the skies are the limit.
Blessed with a genuine passion for their product — they light up like kids on Christmas day when discussing craft beers — the Aparicios want to establish a business that is more than just another storefront.
They want to create a destination.
A place where, like on “Cheers,” everyone knows your name and memories are created over a great drink, a nice bite or two and a chance to be a vital part of a close-knit community.
And they’d love for each and every one of you to come along on the ride.
To find out more, pop over to:
http://www.penncovebrewing.com/home.html
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