A mock-up of the signage outside of the new Tap & Bottle at at 7254 N. Oracle Road.
Tap & Bottle, Tucson’s downtown craft beer tasting room and bottle shop at 403 N. Sixth Ave., has announced that it will open a second location on the northwest side this summer.
Tap & Bottle North is currently under construction at 7254 N. Oracle Road, on the northeast corner of West Ina and North Oracle roads, in the old home of Computer Renaissance.
The space — which shares a shopping center with Tucson Tamale Company and Truland Burgers & Greens — will keep the same feel as the original Tap & Bottle, with a rotating tap list, extensive selection of to-go beers and wines for sale and regular craft beer-themed events, according to Rebecca Safford, who co-owns both locations with her husband, Scott Safford.
Rebecca said they decided to open a second location in response to the lack of craft beer options on the northwest side.
“We kept hearing customers say they really wanted something like this on that side of town,” Rebecca said. “We started looking into it and saw huge growth and the population density in the area. We began seriously looking for locations about six months ago.”
Regulars at the original Tap & Bottle will see some distinct differences in the new space.
Tap & Bottle North, which has nearly 3,000 square feet to play with, will have a private event room and patio seating.
“There will be a front patio and a side patio,” Rebecca said. “It was a must when we were looking for new spots. More space and outdoor seating."
It will also have several televisions, which are often hard to find in local craft breweries and tasting rooms.
The original Tap & Bottle has no televisions.
“There will be a minimal presence at the new location,” Rebecca said. “But the option is there if you want to watch the Wildcats play basketball or things like that. At our current location, you can walk two blocks to North Fourth Avenue and everyone has TVs. That was something that was already being offered.”
The Saffords opened the original Tap & Bottle in the summer of 2013 and it was the first of its kind in the Tucson area. The city has since seen the addition of venues like the Tucson Hop Shop at 3230 N. Dodge Blvd and Arizona Beer House at 150 S. Kolb Road.
Rebecca Safford said the success they’ve had with the original Tap & Bottle is part of the reason why they felt they could open a second spot.
“I feel like we have really learned a lot from opening the first location,” she said. “It is manageable now. We have been open for a few years and have a really good team. We can step away for a minute and know it is going to be OK.”
In addition to Tap & Bottle North, the Saffords are looking into opening a third venture at the MSA Annex, an expansion of Mercado San Agustín, that is still in the planning phases, but is not going to be a Tap & Bottle, Rebecca said.
"We have zero plans to open Tap & Bottles all over the place,” she said. “At most, maybe 2-3 in Tucson."
