A nonalcoholic bottle shop in SLC aims to be a ‘third place’ for the sober and ‘sober-curious’

At Botanika, a nonalcoholic bottle shop and “gourmet bodega” that recently opened in downtown Salt Lake City, owner Kate Riser has a specific clientele in mind: sober people, “sober-curious” people and “people who aren’t sober at all,” she said.

Whether you’re looking for nonalcoholic beer, zero-proof wine, or a “spirit” that won’t leave you with a hangover, Botanika’s curated selection of nonalcoholic beverages are more flavor than buzz. And you can enjoy them right in the store.

Located at 353 W. 200 South, Suite 100A, Botanika opened in May in the former home of Jade Market. Riser said one of her goals with her new shop is to provide a “third place” where anyone is welcome to hang out or work in Botanika’s comfy seating area, and enjoy a zero-proof beverage and some snacks.

A ‘massive gap’

Riser said she understands, as a sober person herself, the “loneliness” that can come with deciding to stop drinking alcohol.

“All of a sudden, a lot of people who were regular parts of your life kind of disappear,” she said.

But having a sense of community is still critical, she said, which is a big reason why the 2023 closure of Curiosity, a nonalcoholic bar in the Maven District, left a “massive gap.”

“When they closed, I was like, ‘Oh, no, now there’s nothing for anyone who wants to still have a social life but not go to a straight-up bar,’” Riser said.

That gap was part of Riser’s inspiration for Botanika, she said.

Riser acknowledges that there are some local bars that sell mocktails, and some shops that have a small selection of nonalcoholic bottles. However, she said, “that’s not their business, so they don’t put a lot of options there for people.”

But at Botanika, the selection is diverse, including four “mimics” that imitate the taste of an alcoholic spirit like tequila. The shop also stocks what are referred to as “botanical spirits” or “adaptogenic spirits.” (Adaptogens are herbs, mushrooms and other legal plant substances that are said to have effects such as relieving stress or enlivening the body.)

One of the bottles available at Botanika is The Pathfinder, which is made from herbs such as wormwood, ginger, sage and saffron. Riser said it’s a “warming, welcoming drink.”

There are also three bottles from the brand Three Spirits: Livener, Nightcap and Social Elixir. Riser described them as “approachable” and “really easy to mix with a variety of things.” (Botanika doesn’t provide made-to-order drinks.)

In the fridge, there are canned mocktails and nonalcoholic beer and wine, which Riser said has “come a really long way” from the “not-great” zero-proof wine she’s tried in the past.

To outfit your nonalcoholic bar, browse Botanika’s selection of bottled shrubs, alcohol-free bitters, ice trays and drinkware.

A ‘gourmet bodega’

When Riser, a Utah native, lived in New York City in her 20s, “I used to go to bodegas all the time,” she said. “I never went to the grocery store.”

After living in Europe for about 10 years, she moved back to Utah in 2011, and she said she was struck by Salt Lake City’s lack of corner stores and bodegas.

So, Riser opened her own, meant to be a place “where you could come and get what you need to make dinner or go to a picnic or have lunch without having to go have a full-on grocery store trip,” she said.

In addition to stocking nonalcoholic beverages, Botanika also carries pantry items like salsa, jam, instant noodles, olive oil, spices, pasta, peanut butter, cereal, pasta sauce and gorgeously packaged tinned fish, plus coffee, tea, pickles, chips, chocolate, popcorn, bread, bagels, butter, candy, salami, yogurt, plant-based milks, produce, fresh flowers and more.

“We try to hit every general category,” she said. When deciding which brands to stock, Riser said she focused on supporting women-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses and local producers. Riser carefully curates the selection, which is more elevated than what you’d typically find in a convenience store.

Riser said she’d like to get even more local businesses involved in Botanika, and stock more produce and grab-and-go items, like salads and sandwiches, without being in competition with Caputo’s Market & Deli and Vosen’s Bread Paradise nearby.

On the shelves along the back of the store are sticks of incense, lighters, cookbooks, water bottles and even tarot cards, “should you be in the mood,” Riser said.

With the first Downtown Farmers Market of the summer, as well as the Utah Pride Festival, happening this weekend, Riser said she is coordinating with other businesses in the area to throw a “sidewalk block party” from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday.

The event will feature food trucks, local vendors, art, free drinks and snacks, music, kids activities and more.

Riser said she hopes Botanika can eventually contribute to the “renaissance” she said is happening at The Gateway shopping center.

She said, “9th and 9th is cool, but what’s happening down here? People want to walk around. … I don’t want to drive everywhere. I want to bike and walk and have places to go — I don’t think I’m alone in that.”