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Four years after General Manager JP Esquivel purchased the Methow Valley Ciderhouse from his employer, the business is for sale.
Business is booming, which requires more investment, time and money that Esquivel doesn’t want to take on.
“We have capacity for 45, 50 people, but sometimes we have reservations for two hockey teams and you’re talking about 80 people in the building, which I can’t fit,” said Esquivel.
On Sunday evening, the restaurant turned people away. It was at capacity with 40 people from a hockey team, plus regular customers. Three bar stools were available.
He suggested the next owner enclose the deck to accommodate more people in the winter. The kitchen can handle the influx, he said, and so can the staff.
“Whoever takes over is not going to struggle for staff.”
Esquivel said he has options lined up, including helping re-open Cinnamon Twisp, which is owned by his wife’s family. The bakery has been closed due to staffing issues. He said it has been difficult for them to find dedicated staff that also want to work weekends.
Esquivel, who worked for previous owners Richard and Lynne Wasson for five years, purchased the business in 2021. He doesn’t see himself working for anyone else unless he can be the general manager.
“Once you’re the owner, you don’t want to work for anyone else,” he said. “Some of my friends that are interested in purchasing it, they’re probably going to ask me to manage it, which is okay.”
“Restaurant business if not for anybody, I can tell you that. Nobody walks in and says, oh, I’ll manage a restaurant. It’s not easy. They have to have a lot of experience and each and every place is different.”
Esquivel has been thinking about selling the business for about a year. He manages the business with his wife, Mireya, who also works at Room One, while raising two children. On Sunday, Mireya worked a busy afternoon shift before going home with their children. JP returned for an even busier evening shift, leaving past closing to open at 8 am the next day.
“We have reservations for tomorrow,” he said as he remembered to change the opening hours on the sign out front. “Thanks for reminding me.”
