Ben’s Bottle Shop is a craft beer tap room and anchor tenant at the The Mill retail complex in Vancouver, WA. The store is divided into three adjoining areas: retail, bar and a bistro area with seating. At the entry, a 50-foot long refrigerated case containing craft beers, ciders and wine. 

The owner of Ben’s Bottle Shop wanted to celebrate the building’s existing elements that epitomize the Pacific Northwest aesthetic, including exposed glu-lam beams and wood roof decking. These features were preserved and used as a driver to make other design decisions to create a cohesive industrial feel. The beams and deck were sand-blasted to reveal warm, natural surfaces; a gypsum board soffit was removed from the perimeter of the space, exposing steel framing; the concrete floor was polished and stained; and accent colors reflect the Ben’s Bottle Shop logo. The site’s custom steel shelving creates a functional separation between the retail and dining area.

The most prominent feature of the space is a generously-sized bar that allows easy interaction between staff and customers. The bar is constructed using a structural beam as the counter, metal tile cladding on the support wall and inset LED lights under the counter and at the base of the wall.

A counter-mounted tap tower hosts approximately 24 taps and digital displays to advertise the selections behind the bar. Most of the remaining space is used for seating, including an area with a large screen TV that can be used as a performance and gathering space. There is also covered outdoor seating, accessed by a roll-up garage door, which doubles as an additional event space when needed.