Support Molly's Non-Alcoholic Bottle Shop Dream

Introduction

When I was 16 years old, I became a barista in my small town’s coffee shop, and I fell in love with my community and connecting them with an experience they really enjoyed. Fast forward to 2020, when I started an Instagram account devoted to non-alcoholic beverages, this passion was reignited. The demand for non-alcoholic drinks has been high, and many incredible brands have come to the market. It’s been so exciting to share these options with my followers. Now, I’m taking the next big step by opening Bellingham, Washington’s first non-alcoholic bottle shop!

About The Shop

I’m Molly Flynn and I believe people deserve non-alcoholic drink options that are delicious, complex, and adult. At the bottle shop, I will offer:

What is a Bottle Shop?

Think of it as a highly curated liquor store, but in this case, the spirits, wine, beer, and more will be non-alcoholic.

Why Non-Alcoholic?

Odds are, you or someone you know moderates their drinking or simply doesn’t consume alcohol at all. There are so many reasons people don’t drink alcohol, be that for the moment, forever, or anywhere in between. There’s something special about being able to make and enjoy a delicious adult beverage at home—without the side effects of alcohol.

I’ve devoted the past four years of my life specifically to sharing my love of all things n/a. It is a dream come true to get to continue this work in the form of a brick-and-mortar bottle shop.

Why Bellingham?

As a resident of the PNW for the past 8 years, I have a profound love for Bellingham, especially the sweet Fairhaven neighborhood where my shop will be located. Bellingham has also shown tremendous enthusiasm for non-alcoholic products, and our community deserves the pleasure and convenience of a friendly neighborhood shop that can provide drink options they’ll really enjoy.

What This Means to Me

While no one needs to be “sober” to enjoy non-alcoholic beverages, I have proudly been sober for over eight years. When I first went alcohol-free, there were extremely limited non-alcoholic options on the market, and most of them were cheap “near beer” or very bad wine. This made me feel like the odd duck out in social situations. I spent hundreds of hours researching better options, but found none. When the big non-alcoholic industry boom hit in 2020, I was blown away! I could finally have my beloved cocktails again without the risk of inebriation. The spirits, beer, and wine that have developed since then have been nothing short of revolutionary for me and for the community of people who don’t drink alcohol. Best of all, having good non-alcoholic options meant I could better engage with my community without needing alcohol in the mix.

I’ll be assisted in this project by my friend and colleague, Brandon Paul Weaver. Brandon isn’t sober; in fact, he owns a highly regarded cocktail and sushi bar! Brandon enjoys non-alcoholic beverages too, but his biggest passion is helping others access opportunities that might not have been available to them otherwise. By helping me navigate small business ownership, Brandon is not only giving the community a gift but also giving me—a queer, disabled woman—the gift of achieving my dreams.

Call to Action

But to make all this happen, I need your help! Small businesses are expensive, loans are costly and take time, and I am trying to keep costs low and open the doors to the shop FAST. I am asking for $45,000 from our all-over community. These funds will help with start-up costs such as:

Would you please consider donating even just $5 or $10 to help my non-alcoholic bottle shop come to life in Bellingham, Washington? Every bit helps, and so does sharing this GoFundMe!

Thank you!