Wine Shop Vashon to close after six years on island

Wine Shop Vashon will close its doors Oct. 3, marking the end of a six-year chapter for the island’s beloved community gathering spot and event venue located in Vashon Village.

Owner Liz Ophoven, who took over the business in June 2023, said decreasing revenues and rising operating costs ultimately made it impossible to keep the business afloat.

Ophoven made the decision to close the shop’s doors at the end of August after a final summer season.

“It’s a lot to process, emotionally and physically,” Ophoven said. “I feel so excited and happy that we did create this amazing community center and hub for … local artists and musicians to come and play and for people to gather.”

While Ophoven said the shop remained consistently busy over the summer months and hosted several events, revenue was lower than in previous years. This August, the shop brought in around $10,000 less than last year, Ophoven said.

She speculates that the trend could have been driven by the summer sun arriving later than usual, regional layoffs and declining alcohol consumption. A 2025 Gallup poll found that a record low percentage of Americans, 54%, report drinking alcohol — the lowest number reported since 1939 when Gallup began surverying Americans on alcohol consumption.

“Because the name of my business is Wine Shop Vashon, some people that don’t drink just didn’t consider coming in, although we have a huge selection of non-alcoholic drinks,” Ophoven said.

High consumer prices for everyday essentials, such as gas and groceries, could also be contributing to islanders and tourists choosing to spend less on restaurant food and beverages.

“Lots of people simply can’t afford a lot extra with so many categories of high prices,” one commenter wrote on a Facebook post announcing Wine Shop Vashon’s closing.

Vashon’s largely seasonal economy, supported by off-island tourism during the sunny summer months, means Wine Shop Vashon often brings in a fraction of its peak-season revenues during the winter months, Ophoven said.

And as operating costs — like the price of food, wine and labor — continue to rise, Ophoven said it became increasingly difficult to withstand the slower season without a lot of buffer cash on hand.

“I know now, after running this business for three years, that I can’t make it through the winter without sacrificing my staff or the quality of the goods,” Ophoven said. “The decision to close is based on economics.”

Ophoven said she is interested in reopening the business uptown in the future, where she hopes more foot traffic could help it thrive in a new location. She said she’s waiting for the right space to open up.

“During the busy nights of First Fridays and street closures and things like that, and just when tourists come and wander around, they don’t wander down to the wine shop,” Ophoven said. “It can really make or break a business.”

First opened in July 2020 by Julie Winters, Wine Shop Vashon initially served as a wine retailer with daily tastings.

After a nearly three-year run, Winters approached Ophoven – a longtime friend — about taking over the business.

While she was originally hesitant, Ophoven’s years of experience working in the food service industry and passion for curating community spaces pushed her to say yes. Initially commuting from Seattle, Ophoven eventually moved to Vashon full-time and fell in love with the island.

“Once I got here and did this project and found this community, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is literally the most special place on earth,’” Ophoven said.

In the years that followed, the shop expanded into a wine bar and event venue, serving an assortment of organic, sustainably sourced, BIPOC and women-owned wines, as well as teas, coffees and snacks that patrons could enjoy in the shop, often amongst live music.

“My goal was just to create a harmonious space where people who came in felt a sense of belonging and acceptance,” Ophoven said.

With leather couches, courtyard seating, and nooks and crannies for reading, working, or chatting with friends, Ophoven said the shop had a casual and comfortable feel that quickly drew regular patrons.

Regulars like Leslee Stockton said it felt like a “home away from home,” with a cozy living room-style feel, with all ages welcome.

“It’s a place I go without needing to make a plan cause I know a friend is gonna walk through the door,” Stockton said. “I’ve made more friends since the wine shop opened three years ago than I had since I moved here in 2013.”

Many patrons, like Amanda Kelly, would bring their laptops in during the afternoons, making Wine Shop Vashon a remote work spot for some.

“You can sit wherever you want, you can stay as long as you want; it made everybody just feel relaxed,” Ophoven said. “The more people came, the more people would meet other people and friendships were made.”

Wine Shop Vashon frequently drew crowds with outdoor music events in its courtyard in the summer, and inside during the winter. The shop also often hosted slam poetry, all-ages open mic nights, educational series, such as “geology of wine” talks with island geologist Steve Bergman.

“She really tried to bring the community together in interesting ways,” Kelly, who also previously did marketing for the Wine Shop Vashon, said. “It’s gonna be a real loss for the community.”

Over the years, Ophoven said she felt embraced and supported by island wineries, chefs and local businesses, who helped show her the ropes as a first-time business owner and sometimes partnered with her in hosting events.

“We all kind of get pumped up by, ‘Oh, let’s do this pop-up, or let’s do this event together or come to my event, I’ll come to yours,’” Ophoven said. “It really does take a village to support all of these amazing independently run places.”

Ophoven said she is now working on starting a supper club — quarterly events with wine, dinner and music at different locations across the island.

After serving its last customers in the coming weeks, Ophoven said she will work on clearing out the space for the new owner, Kate Perry, who will be opening Cazimi, a wellness cafe with fresh juices, smoothies and snacks.

“I’m so grateful for the community that came in, every single customer and every single musician that came through,” Ophoven said. “We really built something special and meaningful.”