Want to dress in character, drink mead and play D&D? Then this Olympia tavern is for you
Business owner Lina Ciampi, who has had a longtime interest in Renaissance-themed fairs, has turned that fascination into multiple businesses, including her latest: Cup of Swords Tavern in Olympia.
The Renaissance-themed tavern opened on New Year’s Eve at 1005 Fourth Ave. E. in space that was once occupied by Grand Vin Wine Merchants. The wine business moved to 2950 32nd Ave. SW, Suite A, in Tumwater, according to its website.
The tavern was a hit on New Year’s Eve, she said. In keeping with the theme of the operation, there were people dressed as pirates singing sea shanties and other music in the form of a drum circle, Ciampi said.
Customers are welcome in street clothes, but they also are welcome to “garb up,” she said.
Ciampi is not kidding. The Olympian visited the business Thursday afternoon before it opened at 4 p.m. But as soon as it opened, who was the first person through the door? A man dressed as a pirate.
That’s what Ciampi loves about Renaissance-themed events: The freedom to play a role from the past and be accepted. She was first exposed to such a fair when she was 13. She learned how to play spoons as a musical instrument, watched a steel smith at work and saw others eating giant turkey legs.
“It was the coolest thing,” she said.
The tavern, like a taproom, only serves beverages and some snacks; it does not have a kitchen and does not serve food. Customers are welcome to bring their own food or have it delivered, but they can’t bring their own drinks, she said.
But why would they? Cup of Swords has a variety of mead — a honey-based wine that can be produced in several flavors — plus it has beer on tap and a cooler full of beer, mead and non-alcoholic options. Lacey-based Axis Meads is sold at Cup of Swords. The mead ranges from 6.9% to 19% in terms of alcohol by volume, Ciampi said.
The house amber beer is produced by Talking Cedar, the Chehalis Tribe’s brewery in Grand Mound.
The business is open 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4 to 11 p.m. Fridays, 3 to 11 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays.
If you enjoy a good role-playing game, you might want to circle Sundays on your calendar. That’s a designated Dungeons & Dragons day at Cup of Swords, Ciampi said. Even better: They serve “hare” of the dog mimosas on that day, all day.
She has some games at Cup of Swords, but on Sundays customers are encouraged to bring their own, Ciampi said. But before you load up the kids and head over there on a Sunday, remember this: Cup of Swords is a tavern so patrons must be 21 or older.
Ciampi is a busy woman. She also is the owner and coordinator of the South Sound Artisan Guild and Black Rune Creations, which is next door to Cup of Swords at 1003 Fourth Ave. E. That’s where she sells tankards, chain mail and jewelry, some of which she has made.
And she’s not done: Ciampi is set to create Cup of Swords Libations so she can make her own mead.
Other business happenings
Fun Junk & Licorice Boutique in west Olympia has turned to GoFundMe for financial help after a driver crashed their car into the business the night of Jan. 6.
“Thankfully, no one was hurt, but Fun Junk will have to be closed for re-building, city inspection, cleanup and re-organization,” the fundraising post reads.
The community has stepped up to help. The business, which had set a $5,000 goal, had already raised more than $6,000 as of Friday.
Equal Latin Restaurant & Bar, which got it start on Fourth Avenue in downtown Olympia, has moved to the former Silvers Saloon location at 2752 Pacific Ave. SE. The business re-opened at the new site on Jan. 3.
The owner could not be reached for more details. Equal Latin first opened in 2019, The Olympian reported.
DuPont-based America’s Credit Union is extending its ties to Tumwater’s craft district, the credit union announced.
The credit union financed Heritage Distillery and the South Puget Sound Community College classrooms at the site — which are used for the college’s craft brewing and distilling program — and now it is set to open a branch in the craft district.
The branch is expected to be completed this summer, according to ACU.
ACU also is providing two craft brewing and distilling scholarships to students this spring.
“We see this as an investment in our community,” said ACU President Phil Prothero in a statement. “The students who take advantage of these scholarships will be tomorrow’s entrepreneurs. We want to be part of that future.”
Real estate
More housing is being pitched on Wiggins Road in Olympia, according to the city’s site plan review committee, which heard from developer representatives on Wednesday.
The site plan review committee provides feedback on early-stage development proposals. Under consideration are 59 single-family lots, three tracts and two access/utility easements at 2727 Wiggins Road SE. One of the existing single-family homes will stay, according to city information.
Home builder Century Communities also has interest in building 109 single-family homes on Wiggins Road at Morse-Merryman Road, The Olympian reported.
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If you know of a retailer, restaurant, coffee shop or other business that is opening, closing, expanding, remodeling, or changing its focus, send an email to reporter Rolf Boone at rboone@theolympian.com.
