Rachel’s Ginger Beer takes prime spot in Pike Place Market

Rachel Marshall is set to open a flagship Rachel’s Ginger Beer soda fountain and bar in one of the prime storefronts of Pike Place Market. She’ll be in the spot that housed a Seattle’s Best Coffee storefront for more than 25 years, a tourist icon for its giant neon coffee cup.

Marshall has made a name for herself with another kind of brew, the zingy ginger beer that she started developing a few years back. What started as a side business when she was waitressing at Seattle restaurants like Delancey and Lark soon exploded into a drinkable mini-empire. The nonalcoholic soda has been a favorite at fine restaurants and in the refrigerator cases at specialty shops. Fans fill growlers of the beverage and buy bottles at Marshall’s farmers market stands, and the soda’s a base for cocktails at hip local establishments, including Montana, the Capitol Hill bar Marshall and partner Adam Peters own with friend Kate Opatz.

Once open, Rachel Marshall says her place will be a combination of soda fountain and bar, serving floats using Cupcake Royale ice cream by day, and Moscow mules and other ginger and not-so-gingery cocktails by night.

If you buy a 32 oz. growler, keep the bottle and cap, it will save you money when you go back in to fill it up with more of the tangy nectar.