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Originally published Friday, September 5, 2008 at 12:00 AM

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Retail Report

Crush chef behind Dry Soda's latest flavors

Several months of sniffing and sampling later, Dry Soda arrived at its next two flavors — juniper berry and vanilla bean — which will debut this fall. Dry Soda is sold nationwide and this summer began distribution at grocery stores in Canada.

Seattle Times business reporters

When the upscale Seattle restaurant Crush is closed on Mondays, Chef Jason Wilson likes to play around in the kitchen while his wife, Nicole, does the books and other managerial work.

For several weeks last spring, he concocted sugar syrups for the Seattle soda-pop company Dry Soda, which was looking to add new flavors.

In May, he lined up his favorite 14 syrups on the curved bar at Crush and led Dry Soda founder Sharelle Klaus and other employees through a five-hour taste test.

They tried syrups made with dried elderberries, crushed black pepper, vadouvan curry and two kinds of vanilla, and narrowed the selection down to six. Wilson then whipped up 5 gallons of syrup to ship to flavor houses whose job it is to match the taste.

Several months of sniffing and sampling later, Dry Soda arrived at its next two flavors — juniper berry and vanilla bean — which will debut this fall. Dry Soda is sold nationwide, and this summer began distribution at grocery stores in Canada.

Everyone is a little wistful that basil didn't make the cut. It was one of Klaus' early ideas when she launched Dry Soda in 2005 with four flavors — kumquat, lavender, lemon grass and rhubarb.

The color of the basil syrup wowed Wilson so much that he created a similarly green syrup from tarragon for a cocktail at Crush.

He also likes the way Dry Soda's new juniper berry goes with gin.

"We don't carry Coke or Sprite or root beer anymore," Wilson said. The restaurant has replaced those sodas with Dry, a low-calorie alternative sweetened with cane sugar.

Klaus said she was thrilled to collaborate with Wilson. "He got the vision right from the start."

— Melissa Allison

Tidbits

Upscale retailer Gucci has set mid-November for the opening of a 5,317-square-foot store at 1302 Fifth Ave. in downtown Seattle. Gucci is remaking space previously occupied by Escada. — AM

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Everything Party, a Redmond party-supplies retailer, opens a new store today at The Landing in Renton. The new store follows an opening last week at The Landing by Joe's Sports & Outdoor. — AM

Steve & Barry's will keep open its clothing stores at Everett Mall and Auburn's SuperMall, but will close its store at Westfield Capital in Olympia. Port Washington, N.Y.-based Steve & Barry's was bought out of bankruptcy last month by a newly formed affiliate of investment firms Bay Harbour Management and York Capital Management. — AM

Seattle-based Callison has been selected to collaborate with Victoria's Secret on the design of a 21,000-square-foot flagship store scheduled to open this fall in New York. — MA

Metropolitan Market has sponsored a new grocery-store exhibit at the Children's Museum at Seattle Center. The 740-square-foot exhibit will be unveiled publicly Saturday. — MA

Kent-based REI has hired Bill Baumann as vice president of information technology. Baumann previously was vice president of IT at Musician's Friend/Guitar Center in Medford, Ore. — AM

Everett-based Zumiez has promoted Lynn Kilbourne to president, a title previously held by Chief Executive Richard Brooks. Kilbourne, 45, joined Zumiez in September 2004 as executive vice president and general merchandising manager. She will remain general merchandising manager. As part of her promotion, she will receive a base annual salary of $350,000 and be eligible for an annual performance-based bonus up to 150 percent of her salary. She also will receive a one-time grant of 32,680 restricted shares that vest over four years. — AM

Retail Report appears Fridays. Melissa Allison covers the food and beverage industry. She can be reached at 206-464-3312 or mallison@seattletimes.com. Amy Martinez covers goods, services and online retail. She can be reached at 206-464-2923 or amartinez@seattletimes.com.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

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About Retail Report
Retail Report is a look at the trends, issues and people who makeup the dynamic and versatile retail sector throughout the Puget Sound region. Every Friday with Melissa Allison and Amy Martinez. Send tips or comments to mallison@seattletimes.com or amartinez@seattletimes.com.

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