North Bend’s old firehouse to be new home of Piccola Cellars tasting room

It's a big, empty building, but the old North Bend fire station may be the perfect fit for a "little" new winery in the city. Piccola Cellars in Woodinville recently signed a five-year lease on the property, where it plans to relocate its warehouse business from Woodinville, and open a second public tasting room in the near future.

By Carol Ladwig • February 11, 2014 6:41 pm
Engine 87 rolls out of the bay at the old North Bend fire station
Engine 87 rolls out of the bay at the old North Bend fire station

It’s a big, empty building, but the old North Bend fire station may be the perfect fit for a “little” new winery in the city.

Piccola Cellars in Woodinville recently signed a five-year lease on the property, where it plans to relocate its warehouse business from Woodinville, and open a second public tasting room in the near future.

The North Bend City Council approved the lease at its Feb. 4 meeting, allowing the company to proceed with its renovation plans of the old fire station. Piccola will use only the main floor portion of the building, leaving the second-floor space available for Snoqualmie Police to use when they take over the North Bend police contract next month. Piccola will build a 1200 square-foot warehouse in what used to be the equipment bays, plus a 700 square-foot tasting room on the south end of the building, where various Piccola wines will be offered for sampling and for sale.

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Company owner Diana Kaspic said they applied for the building permit this week and were ready to begin some of the interior demolition. “We’re hoping to open as close to the first part of March as possible,” she added.

When they open, all of the winery’s creations will be available for tasting, sale by the glass and other portable options. “We don’t do bottles,” Kaspic explained, “We just do returnable bottles.”

Piccola wines are available in various sizes of kegs, refillable growlers and disposable totes, which hold about two bottles of wine. Wines will be produced in eastern Washington, and packaged and distributed from the North Bend shop.

“We’re really excited,” said Lindell, about the introduction of a winery into North Bend. “We believe the use is really compatible.”

The property is zoned downtown commercial, which allows a variety of retail uses.

Lindell noted that the city of Woodinville has enjoyed some growth from Washington wines, most of which are produced in eastern Washington, and trucked right past North Bend for bottling and distribution.  “We’re excited about that industry taking a closer look at North Bend,” she added.