In anticipation of Small Business Saturday on November 25, we are spotlighting several local brick and mortar businesses. Since 2010, Small Business Saturday has served as counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, encouraging consumers to shop locally.
Today we are highlighting Tiki Tap House in Centralia, which is an all-ages destination for island-inspired pizza and pints. Founded in 2013, Tiki Tap House features a tiki lounge vibe, an ever-changing lineup of local craft beers and wines, and hand-tossed pizzas that were recently voted Best of Lewis County for the seventh time.
Jordan and Cindy Peabody, who own Tiki Tap House, recently shared their thoughts about their business 10 years in – and what being a part of the community means to them.
Breakout Box
Tiki Tap House
Location: 404 N Tower Avenue, Centralia, WA 98531
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday
Website: http://www.tikitaphouse.com
Social media pages: Facebook
What inspired you to start Tiki Tap House?
Jordan & Cindy: Ever since we met, we’ve shared a mutual love for hospitality. We love food, and we love people. For us, owning and operating a restaurant always seemed like a natural extension of our home. And, in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis, we found an opportunity to buy an existing restaurant business with very little risk but a LOT of reward. After four years of successfully operating that tiny venture, we built up savings that allowed us to open Tiki Tap House in 2013.
What’s been the most rewarding part of being a business owner?
Jordan & Cindy: The relationships we’ve made. Many of our customers have become like family over the last 10 years. In that decade, Tiki has been a part of so many important family moments such as homecoming, prom, graduations, engagements, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, and anniversaries. We feel extremely blessed to be such a big part of so many lives in this community.
How has TwinStar helped Tiki Tap House be successful?
Jordan & Cindy: If it wasn’t for TwinStar’s small business-friendly loan services, Tiki wouldn’t be here. From incredibly helpful (and friendly) loan officers to unbeatable terms, TwinStar has always been the credit union for us. The entire staff seems genuinely interested in watching our business succeed.
What’s one business challenge you’ve overcome that you are proud of?
Jordan & Cindy: COVID. ’Nuff said.
What do you think makes Tiki Tap House stand out?
Jordan & Cindy: Hopefully it's our genuine love for (and desire to be a part of) this community. We bought our building (thanks to a TwinStar loan!) 10 years ago, so that people would realize that we’re in this business for the long haul. For us, success has always meant being a part of downtown Centralia’s story. Looking at what Tiki Tap House represents to so many locals, we believe we’ve been successful!
As we approach the holiday season, we encourage you to shop small and locally. Small businesses are one of the backbones of every community, especially rural ones. More than ever, these businesses need our support.