Business Community

Invitation Bookshop moving to new location, while downtown tap room has a new owner

Invitation Bookshop is moving to Judson Street, while a nearby craft beer tasting room has a new owner and a new look. 

Invitation is still open in the Uptown neighborhood, but owner Allyson Howard hopes to complete the move to 3119 Judson Street by next month. 

Meanwhile, Matt Burnett recently purchased the former Gig Harbor Brewing at 3155 Harborview Dr., next to Skansie Brothers Park. It’s now called Evergreen State Brewing. 

Invitation Bookshop 

Howard said the move from 5125 Olympic Drive to 3119 Judson St. will put her store at the heart of the community. 

Invitation has been at its current location since opening in September 2020. Howard committed to the lease for that building in March of that year – a few days before the world began shutting down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Invitation has been in its current location since September 2020. The independent bookstore hopes to move into its new location on Judson Street in April.

“The fact that we opened when we did and weathered some of the things we did is a testament to how this community has supported us,” Howard said. 

The new Judson Street location gives Invitation more space. The sales floor will expand by about 400 square feet, with much of that devoted to an expanded section of children’s books. 

“There’s not a lot on the waterfront that’s kid-focused,” said Howard, who spent 19 years in education before choosing to open a bookstore. That includes time as an AP literature teacher. She also worked for a literary agent and in academic publishing. “We really feel that’s a need.” 

Howard also hopes to host more events at the new location. That’s already a staple at the existing spot. 

Invitation Bookshop owner Allyson Howard in the store’s current location on Point Fosdick Drive.

The new location – previously a West Marine boat supply outlet – needs some work before it becomes a book store. Howard hopes to move by early April, in time for a Marie Bostwick book launch event on April 17. Independent Bookstore Day, April 26, is the absolute drop-deadline. 

It should be a more visible space than the current location on busy Olympic Drive.

“The increased foot traffic for any business is attractive,” said Howard “There’s so much that happens in terms of events in downtown. It is the heart of the hub of the community.” 

The new Invitation Bookshop location on Judson Street. Invitation hopes to be in its new location in early to mid April.

Evergreen State Brewing 

A few blocks away, Burnett recently purchased the former Gig Harbor Brewing from John Fosberg and renamed it Evergreen State Brewing. 

Much will remain the same – Burnett retained the tasting room’s staff and the brewery’s brew master. 

Burnett said his background is in business, not brewing. He is a homebrewer who has followed the state’s microbrewery movement since the 1990s, but his main gig is as owner of Lo Volt Communications. 

The change from Gig Harbor Brewing to Evergreen State Brewing will bring some new beers and new branding. The sign out side the tap room is designed to evoke signs at national forests, which is no coincidence, as Burnett is an avid outdoorsman. 

Evergreen State Brewing, in the former Gig Harbor Brewing spot on Harborview Drive.

Beer names will pay tribute to Washington state’s landmarks and natural beauty. For instance, Burnett plans to introduce a 29 Tribes Red Ale, named in honor of Washington’s 29 federally recognized tribes, and donate a percentage of proceeds to tribal causes.  

A former U.S. Army combat medic, Burnett said he is also planning a new brew that will benefit nonprofits supporting veterans. 

The purchase also included the Tacoma location at 3120 South Tacoma Way. A grand opening celebration is planned there on the weekend of March 21 and 22. 

The Gig Harbor location’s grand opening celebration will be March 28 through 29. But the tasting room is open now under its new management.