Green Spotlight: Broken Top Bottle Shop
According to Broken Top Bottle Shop (BTBS), they’re more than a brew pub – they’re a brew HUB! And we definitely found that to be true during our last check-in with the restaurant owner, Jennifer Powell.
BTBS first opened in 2012 and has become a locals’ favorite spot. Located on NW Pence Lane, the bottle shop offers craft brews, delicious food and a great selection of beverages to go. (I especially appreciate the great variety of vegetarian and gluten free options available on the menu.) They pour draft beer from a rotating 12-tap. In addition, a 12-door cooler is stocked with over 400 single bottles and cans of beer, cider, wine, mead, sake and nonalcoholic beverages. They provide options from all over the place, but always have a large selection from local Bend breweries.
The shop is a welcoming place to gather with friends and family. It’s also home base for several great community events, including fundraisers (right now they’re raising money for Bend Spay & Neuter Project), Pints and Politics (where you can learn about local political issues), and “Know Before You Go” avalanche awareness events. They have frequent live music, painting classes, and special occasion vegan meals. We are really impressed by these efforts, and appreciate that they provide a venue where important conversations can take place within our community.
What else makes them a sustainable business in Bend?
BTBS is a composting rock star! They’ve been participating in Bend Garbage & Recycling’s commercial composting program from day one. All new employees and servers are trained on how to compost properly, and Jennifer said that it’s a source of pride among the staff. They keep buckets around the prep area and all bussing stations to ensure that everyone’s contributing to the practice.
The restaurant also participates in Oregon Bottle Drop, a system for redeeming bottles and cans across our state. Jennifer fills up her truck once or twice a week and heads to the redemption center to return deposit containers. But instead of collecting a refund, she hands over the valuable recyclables to somebody who needs the money more. “It always makes me feel awesome!” she said. “It’s my good deed of the week.”
In our conversation, Jennifer mentioned that the business participates in Pacific Power’s Blue Sky renewable energy program. And I also learned that they’re willing to produce (and encourage) zero waste events whenever they are hired for catering, by providing compostable and/or reusable food ware.
We encourage you to check out BTBS for yourself – swing by for a beer after work, grab dinner with the family, or check out the next Pints and Politics event (every third Thursday of the month). We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
P.s. Fun fact! One of BTBS’s employees, Lauren, makes and sells upcycled dog leashes and collars made from old parachute cords. How fun is that? Check out ParaPup Designs!