For those who have been craving handcrafted drinks in the evening and struggling to find options, look no further than Sippindippity, a new shop designed to keep DePauw students and Greencastle locals caffeinated after normal business hours.
On last week’s State of the Castle, WGRE’s Assistant News Director Cybele Gilkey '28 sat down with Brian Dowd and Jackie Dowd to learn more about the upcoming opening of their drink shop.
The store will offer a variety of drinks, ranging from espresso-based beverages to homemade sodas. The pair also has plans to use the space as a speakeasy after the shop gets settled in.
They have been debating the idea of opening a “mom and pop” store for upwards of twenty years. The real catalyst for Sippindippity’s opening, though, was a combination of their shared experience in the industry, reputations of excellent customer service—Brian Dowd is well known and loved by DePauw students from his work at Bon Appetit’s Cafe Allegro and Jackie Dowd has won the hearts of students and locals alike at The Fluttering Duck—and Jackie Dowd’s long-time passion for coffee.
“I just like being involved in projects that Jackie is involved in,” Brian Dowd stated. While he is less knowledgeable about espresso, he expressed excitement about the customer service aspect of the business. He appreciates knowing what customers like and how to improve the business accordingly.
Despite the challenges of opening a small business, such as navigating health regulations, planning construction and managing logistics, they love the Greencastle community and are happy to bring a new drink space to the city. “I feel supported and that they want this as well,” Jackie Dowd said. She happily reported that the community’s support and encouragement for the business was at an unexpected level.
What they hope to provide to the community is multifaceted but mainly begins with providing access to drinks in the evening. “I am certain that people are still thirsty after 3 pm,” Jackie Dowd explained. She also promises that the space will provide “A whimsical atmosphere and quality service.”
While an official opening date is yet to be announced, they have begun selling products “under the Sippindippity banner,” which includes their appearance at the Prindle Institute for Ethics’ event, Prindlepalooza, earlier this semester. They hope to open their doors by Halloween. To listen to the full interview, visit www.wgre.org/news.
