Suds to your door
Photo by CHANSE WATSON/ Oliver’s Mercantile employee Alannah Ford makes a beer delivery to Michael Hutchins in Silverton on Friday. Oliver’s is accepting delivery orders during normal business hours.
One by one, businesses across the county are shutting their doors due to the COVID-19 situation. Whether it be to follow recommendations set forth by health officials or simply to keep losses at a minimum during this period of limited shopping, shop owners everywhere are facing the very real possibility of closing for an extended period of time to wait out the pandemic.
The few that have not yet decided to flip off that open sign for the foreseeable future have had to develop some creative means in which to get their products to their customers while still keeping things safe and clean.
One example in particular is Oliver’s Mercantile based in Wallace. Normally an establishment for customized swag and craft beer (both on tap and cans/bottles to go), owner Ali Koski has embraced home craft beer delivery to keep the doors open as long as she can.
“We really wanted to think outside of the box and try to figure out creative ways to still serve the Silver Valley while limiting exposure,” Koski said. “We know that people still really want craft beer, but not everybody wants to fight the TP hoarders in the big box stores to get it. Now they can call or text their order into us ahead of time, pick it up on the curb, or for a small delivery fee, we’ll drive it anywhere from Pinehurst to Mullan.”
Koski reached out to the Idaho Liquor Division and quickly learned what was needed to be done to legally deliver her product.
Customers can check out Oliver’s selection of over 50 craft beers on their Facebook or Instagram page. Once they’ve made their selection, customers can then call in or text a completed order sheet with their delivery address.
Delivery orders must be at least one six-pack in size or more and customers should have their ID’s ready when they accept their order.
Idaho regulations require that payment for these orders must be made either over the phone or in person at the store. Delivery drivers cannot accept payment at homes.
It is still a very real possibility that Koski will have to follow the lead of other local businesses and close temporarily, but she hopes that this delivery option will help her keep her employees paid as long as possible.
“We figured out what it was going to take and we went through the process to offer delivery service,” she said.” With a huge selection of beer available that would otherwise sit around, we figured that we might as well put it on wheels and get it to people in their houses.”
Oliver’s Mercantile can be reached by phone at 208-660-1083 and is located at 605 Bank St. in Wallace. Visit their social media pages for more information regarding products and hours of operation.
The News-Press is in the process of compiling a list of Silver Valley businesses that are still open in some way. This list will be posted to our website as soon as it is finished.