A business launched in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic to provide beverages other than alcohol for social gatherings is closing its doors. 

Kindred Spirits, an alcohol-free bottle shop in Richland, notified the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business that its owners had “made the difficult decision” to close permanently on Oct. 24, ahead of the expiration of their lease on Oct. 31. 

A social media post indicates the owners are offering the business for sale. 

“We are retiring and had hoped to find a buyer. Had a few people interested but nothing so far has come through,” said owner Marlys Aspinwall in an email to the Journal.

The shop briefly had a location at the now-closed Public Market in Kennewick before relocating in 2023 to the retail building at the corner of Bradley Boulevard and George Washington Way. 

Kindred Spirits offered more than 150 different products for those abstaining from alcohol. Those have included wines, bourbon and beer, as well as pre-mixed drinks and cocktails. 

Marlys and Charles Aspinwall were driven to launch the business after being exhausted by the excess opportunities to socially drink alcohol during the Covid-19 lockdown. They discovered the booming alcohol-free beverage industry and decided to bring the experience to the Tri-Cities.