2018-2019 Community Guide
13
Chamber of Commerce Directory
Speaking of heart, the Alpine Downtown
Association continues to host Heart of
Alpine events in the downtown center, with
a notably successful Valentine’s weekend-
long event called the Heart of the Arts.
OTHER ALPINE BUSINESS NEWS
• The Ritchey Wine Saloon and Beer Garden
restoration was completed this year, thanks in
part to a community-backed effort. The historic
structure, on the corner of 5th Street and
Murphy Avenue, was formally known as Hotel
Ritchey and City Hotel and was built in 1886 as a
working man’s saloon near the railroad stop and
crew change station. After almost 50 years of
being shuttered, the historic building was re-
opened March 30, 2018. The new establishment
has become a popular sunset viewing spot
thanks to a sprawling outdoor porch on the
second story. Music Sundays keep the live music
scene strumming starting at 7:30 p.m. each
Sunday. Saloon doors stay open Monday through
Thursday 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 5
p.m. to midnight, and Sunday 5:00 p.m. – 10
p.m. One of Alpine’s newest hangouts, The
Ritchey Wine Saloon and Beer Garden is fast
becoming a community meeting ground and will
host live music during the Harvest Moon
Festival.
• Alpine’s own Big Bend Brewing Company's
Taproom is open five days a week, year-round,
featuring a rotating selection of seasonal and
specialty brews, including one of the best beers
in the world, the 2018 World Beer Cup Gold
Medal winner, the National Park Hefeweizen.
Taster flights and pints are available, as well as a
broad selection of merchandise, including tee
shirts, hats, stickers, koozies, and glassware. The
taproom has outdoor seating and is child and
dog-friendly- and you're welcome to bring your
own food. Come drink delicious beer, relax, and
meet folks from all over the world. The taproom
is open Thursday, Friday and Monday from 4-
8pm and Saturday and Sunday from 1-8pm.
• Front Street Books, an Alpine institution for
almost 25 years, is under new ownership and
direction by Anne Calaway, who bought the
bookstore from its original owner in July. She has
already remodeled it to be more of an open
space, with a dedicated kids’ room, where
parents can see what’s going on while they shop.
“I want it to be just a top notch regional, Texas
and Southwestern bookstore, along with award-
winning fiction and nonfiction,” Anne said.
The first big book signing goes to Big Bend
resident and historian Lonn Taylor, scheduled for
Oct. 19. Anne wants to see a book signing about
once a month, with a focus on Big Bend regional
talent. The store is located in downtown Alpine
at 121 E Holland Ave., and is open Mon. – Friday
9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., or online at
www.fsbooks.com.
• Taste and See Bakery - Filled with artisanal
breads and pastries, this new kid on the block is
right in the middle of downtown Alpine, at 116
N. 5th. It isn’t just a great place to eat – it’s a fine
art gallery, too. Breakfast consists of muf fins,
cinnamon toast, Nutella toast, frittata of the day,
coffee, tea, and other options. Lunch choices
include soup, grilled cheese sandwich, salad, and
more. Slices of Bundt cake or whole cakes, cookies
and cupcakes round out the treats. The website at
tasteandseebakery.org/menu/ lists the bread and
pastry schedule, with delicious choices like Italian
peasant bread, grainier seedier milk and honey,
and spelt rye pumpernickel. Open Thurs. 8 a.m. – 3
p.m., Fri. and Sat. 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.