09 April . 2024
Post & Pour: A New and Exciting Hub for Tehaleh
Nestled in the heart of the Tehaleh community, a new gathering place is taking shape. Post & Pour brings it all together: part café, bistro, and tap house, it’s set to become a cornerstone, offering residents a place to connect, relax, and take in the beauty of Mt. Rainier. In a recent interview, Melanie Clark, one of the owners of Post & Pour, shared her vision for the space and how it will serve the community.
A Community Gathering Space
Melanie and her husband, along with their business partner, purchased the building formally called The Post that housed Caffe D'arte and the Tehaleh Welcome Center for the past twelve years. While the Tehaleh Welcome Center will still reside in the building for the time being, the new owners have big plans for their new business. They saw an opportunity to create something unique and inviting, a place that would become more than just a café or restaurant. "We're striving to have a community gathering place, a place where people can come and meet their neighbors," Melanie explained. "We can hold events that speak to all the kind of diverse residents in Tehaleh and really have something that's more than just a café or a restaurant, something that people can be more engaged in and see as their daily stop or their third place to really bring some more community connections to Tehaleh."
The team behind Post & Pour is aiming to create a space that reflects the values and principles of the Tehaleh community: keeping sustainability top of mind with plans to introduce more reusable cups and dishware, while also exploring options for composting and reducing waste. They’re also looking at ways to incorporate the natural beauty of the area into the business, with ideas for trail packs and outdoor events that’ll be a stellar way to get people to stop in on the way in and out of their day’s adventures. "We love the outdoors," Melanie said. "I think bringing in the feel of the outdoors and outdoor elements into the business is extremely important for us."
Supporting Local Businesses
Post & Pour is committed to supporting local businesses and sourcing locally whenever possible. Melanie mentioned several local businesses that they are already working with, including Landshark Woodworks and Hot Off The Press. "We're talking to BrownDog Coffee Roasters, who's a local coffee roaster in the neighborhood,” Melanie added. "We're super excited about utilizing Tehaleh businesses as much as possible." Bringing small businesses to the forefront of Tehaleh activity will help showcase all the talents and versatility within the neighborhood.
The team is also focused on creating a welcoming and inclusive space for all members of the community. They are planning a variety of events to appeal to different interests throughout the seasons. "I'm creating a lot of different kinds of events for the community to come, whether it's wine and yoga on the lawn or book club," Melanie said. "Just having some different events that will get people through the doors and engaging with neighbors."
Of course, when people hear of a new shop opening up, many will have plenty of creative ideas that would fit well. And Post & Pour is certainly listening! They have been engaging in feedback to ensure that folks around town have a say in what their local watering hole will be today, tomorrow, and down the line. "I think the communication piece of it is so big," Melanie said. "So that's something that we strive to do, to make sure that we're keeping open lines of communication and sharing why or why not something may or may not work."
What about Caffé D'arte?
The team is also working to ensure that the transition from Caffé D'arte to Post & Pour is as seamless as possible. They’re keeping the bones of the building and making design tweaks to improve functionality, but the overall look and feel will remain similar. The Caffé D'arte staff will also be familiar. Kendra, who has been at the café for 12 years, will remain as the café manager. "We realize it is the only place nearby for people to stop to get a bite to eat or something to drink," Melanie said. "It will be a little bit chaotic for the next month or so as we do some of the upgrades so we’re just asking for the grace and patience of the community as we work through these things."
The team is hopeful that the transition will be complete by the end of April, with the addition of beer and wine and new menu items.
Despite the challenges, the team behind Post & Pour is excited about the future and the potential of the space to become a true Tehaleh meeting house where friends and family can swing by for that home sweet home vibe.