Faced With a Pandemic, Meriwether Cider Says, ‘Let’s Do Good’

A conversation with Co-Owner/Events and Taproom Coordinator Kate Pettis

Story by Lex Nelson, Photography provided by Meriwether Cider

This April, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported that one in four small businesses had temporarily closed due to COVID-19, with many more shutdowns on the way. This sent entrepreneurs scrambling and, according to psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman, pushed many into spirals of grief.

“Depression is anger turned inward,” she told Small Business Trends, warning that a wave of these emotions could be imminent.

Boise was no exception to the shutdown rule, but through the turmoil Kate Pettis and her team at the local, family-owned Meriwether Cider Company remained optimistic. Eight months into the pandemic, Co-owner Pettis said, “I try not to stress out about things that are out of my control. The things that we can control we try to come at with creativity and a lot of ‘silver lining’ attitude.”

Meriwether briefly pivoted to a to-go only model this spring, but now its taprooms are back open, though with extensive COVID-19 precautions. Pettis said the most difficult aspect of the change is keeping up her energy while running the new business model.

“We have had to get creative with ways to keep engaging customers even if they aren't physically in our space. That has been fun, and I think it will make us a more well-rounded business and more accessible to more people in the future,” Pettis explained, adding, “Folks have been so supportive and we couldn't be more grateful to them.”

To do its part to support the community, Meriwether started “Let’s Do Good” this year, a program that raises awareness for local nonprofits.

“We partner with three [nonprofits] a year and try to get them as much exposure as possible. We have also been collaborating with as many local businesses as possible to bring them, and us, more business. Personally, I have been having people over every week to my — appropriately social-distanced — outside table for drinks and food so that we can connect with each other,” Pettis said.

Right now, customers can support Meriwether by buying its cider, either in stores or its taprooms in Boise and Garden City. Though in-person visits don’t feel quite the same, Pettis is looking forward to having people back to both taprooms bellying up to the bartop.

“We miss the good conversation and seeing people's whole faces,” she said.