New Tri-Cities cider taproom coming to Richland this summer

A new cider house is coming to Richland right on George Washington Way.

“It’s the culmination of dreams of a kid coming to life,” said Nate Steele, owner of Tri-Cities Cider House.

Interior construction started Friday on the cider house at 1082 George Washington Way next to the new Homewood Suites Hilton. It’s scheduled to open in mid-August.

“This goes back to being a kid — I’ve only ever known restaurants,” said the 34-year-old who has lived in Tri-Cities most of his life.

“Even as a kid, my sister and I would play restaurant. We wrote out the menu, made our parents stay outside — then have them knock on the door to come in and we served them.”

Steele has been a server, bartender, midmanager and worked in the kitchen. He even was a corporate trainer for a chain restaurant.

“I’ve literally worked every position in the industry — except my own business,” he said.

Steele attended Columbia Basin College for a while to pursue a networking communications degree, but that wasn’t his passion.

“Nothing brings me more joy than setting a burger, food or drink down and having (a customer’s) face light up,” he said.

He now wants to bring his love of cider to customers.

Opening doors

The Tri-Cities Cider House will be housed in about 1,400 square feet and seat 40 people. Steele will have maybe a half-dozen bar seats and the rest will be smaller tables.

Aside from bar snacks, he won’t have a meal menu, but he’ll welcome any outside food. The cider house will be in the same building as the new Porter’s Real Barbecue when it opens.

Steele hopes to add food eventually — along with a laid-back lounge area where customers can read and relax, but for now the law will only allow patrons 21 and older.

Customers will be able to choose a pint from 15 to 20 rotating taps, as well as hard-to-find cans and bottles. Ciders created in the Tri-Cities will definitely be on tap as well as many others from the Northwest.

Steele will have some wines. He’ll give a little love to craft brews by keeping a few on tap, as well as one or two by the can. The core of the business is definitely hard cider.

“We are going to do everything but shove it down your throats,” Steele said laughing. “We want to educate the community on aspect of the cider world. We want to show you respect in doing it, and show a deep admiration for something.”

In other words, he wants to GIVE CIDER.

Core of operating

The foundation — the cornerstones — of Steel’s business will be the GIVE CIDER motto. It stands for Gratitude, Integrity, Values, Empathy and Caring, Intelligence, Diversity, Education, Respect.

“That is the framework of how I want to live my life in the cider house — and out,” Steele said. “I want to show the quality of people being thankful and showing appreciation — how kindness to others is invaluable. I want to always do the right things, and do it with integrity, even when no one is looking.”

That attitude plays into his grand plan. His goal is to open a Tri-Cities Cider House in all three cities.

“It’s my way to give back to Tri-Cities for giving me my values.”

Information: Tri-Cities Cider House Facebook page