By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews.com
It’s tough enough to keep a retail shop going during a pandemic. But to open a new one?
It’s all part of the plan for Todd and Karen Moyer, owners and operators of the new Beach Daisy Wine shop just north of Yachats in the Greenhouse Market Place.
“People have been enjoying wine for thousands of years, and that’s not going to change,” said Todd Moyer. “Our business plan allows for slow times, and the owners of this building have been very accommodating.”
The wine shop is in the former home of Dancing Dogs Pottery.
Since opening Dec. 27, the two Pennsylvania natives have enjoyed a warm reception from area residents.
“People here are knowledgeable about wine, but we were surprised to find how much everyone missed having a good wine shop in town,” said Karen Moyer. The Wine Place, Yachats’ former wine shop, closed a few years ago.
Beach Daisy Wine — named after the native flowering plant — stocks some 125 wines from Germany, Italy, France and Spain, with special focus on labels from Oregon, California and Washington. Customers are welcome to suggest their own favorites.
Also offered — as county-level restrictions allow — are wines by the glass, and light food items such as cheese and charcuterie plates.
During the winter season, the shop is open Friday through Monday; in summer, plans are to be open seven days a week.
Depending on pandemic restrictions, Beach Daisy plans to hold free tastings each Saturday from noon to 5 pm., following health safety protocols. When tasting and inside dining/drinking are not allowed, “We can adjust, and stay open as a bottle shop,” said Todd Moyer.
The shop’s website has a comprehensive “Wine Tasting” section that links to Lincoln County’s COVID-19 risk status, which is currently “high” and allows for indoor dining and tastings.
The Moyers are no strangers to Yachats. They’ve owned a home in town since 2005, and Karen Moyer had a café and cheese shop from 2007-2010 downtown and where Bread & Roses currently operates. The couple spent the past five years in Portland, where she worked as a cook and baker, and he worked as an electrical engineer. He now works remotely for Apple. When coronavirus restrictions ease, a familiar local figure plans to help out at Beach Daisy — Mary Mackall, who worked at The Wine Place.
“We want to be a friendly place to spend some time, where people can sip wine, be comfortable and watch the world go by,” said Todd Moyer, gesturing to the large windows fronting on U.S. Highway 101. At present, no reservations are needed for tastings and dining, when allowed, at the shop’s socially-distanced tables; masks are required.
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Beach Daisy Wine, 2118 Hwy 101 N, Building 4, Yachats. Phone 458/546-9033; www.BeachDaisyWine.com.