Fuel Up and Stock Up in Truckee

Truckee locals and entrepreneurs Stacey Larson and Jaime Legare make a powerhouse team when it comes to invigorating Truckee with fresh, new businesses. The two women own and operate Mountain Brew and Zander’s The BottleShop, two places you need to frequent when in Truckee.

Mountain Brew

On a crisp, cool morning, a “brewista” is serving up hot coffee in the now open Mountain Brew cafe at Donner Pass Road and I-80 roundabout in Truckee.

Thrilled to share their own custom-curated blend of coffees and healthy, quick-serve menu with guests and locals, owners Stacey Larson and Jaime Legare explain their "tastes great naked" tagline, which supports their coffee flavor profiles that don’t need milk or sugar.

“We wanted a coffee that tasted great on its own,” Legare says, adding that the roasters they work with are a third-generation family-owned roaster with more than 100 years of roasting experience.

Mountain Brew serves organic certified coffee, French and Italian blends and traditional European espresso drinks. Customers agree that the flavor profile of each of the coffees does indeed taste incredible on its own, and without milk and sugar the coffee is lower in calories.

Legare and Larson identified the old 76 Station by Donner Lake as the best location for Mountain Brew’s first brick and mortar. Their menu goes beyond a typical coffeehouse menu to serving fast, casual, healthy food options to “fuel your adventure” and includes a selection of beer and wine.

Customers have options on how they want to dine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mountain Brew offers quick-serve indoor counter service, a mobile app to preorder to-go orders, a drive-thru to order without getting out of your car, indoor dining and summer outside dining options for those who want to relax on site. Mountain Brew is adjacent to the Legacy Trail, making it super convenient for bikers during the summer.

Mountain Brew is a convenient new dining option for locals on the west end of town and enhances the experience for lake visitors, campers at Donner Memorial State Park, hikers along the Pacific Rim Trail and travelers along the I-80 corridor passing through town. Locals are especially excited about the drive-thru and pre-orders on Mountain Brew’s app, so that everything can be ready when they get there.

“We want people to enjoy delicious food options easier and do it with friendly, quick service,” Larson says.

Open Monday-Sunday, 6 a.m.-8 p.m.   

Visit mountainbrewcoffee.com
Follow @mountainbrewtruckee

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Zander's The BottleShop

Zander’s The BottleShop, a high-end spirits store, is located on Donner Pass Road in the West Truckee Center (the old factory outlets). The BottleShop provides unique finds for you to consume yourself, stock your home bar, take to parties and give as gifts.

After acquiring the liquor license and creating an expansive homage to the original Zander’s Spirits, Legare and Larson hoped to make former owner, Tina, proud of the new Zander’s The BottleShop, which opened in November of 2023.

When you walk into The BottleShop, you experience a scent of old wine and bourbon barrels, copper coffered ceilings, wood floors, ambient lighting, a tasting counter and beautiful backlit custom displays that hold hundreds of wines and spirits. They have refrigerators full of the coldest beer in town, an expansive selection of nonalcoholic wine, beers and spirits, and all of the accouterment needed for great-tasting cocktails.

“We have things you can’t find anywhere else in the Truckee/Tahoe Basin and some of your favorites as well,” Larson assures. “And if you have a request for a spirit, wine or beer we don’t have, we will bring it in for you – just ask!”

Inside The BottleShop, the Market stocks top-quality charcuterie board meats, condiments and specialized cocktail-making ingredients. The Market also has more than 100 bitters, a variety of brandied cherries, candied ginger and syrups, as well as mixers and soda waters. Beyond the Market, you can also find barware, glassware, custom gift baskets, client gifts, gift cards and family-friendly games.

Larson and Legare wanted to have a shop that is warm and inviting and staffed with informed team members.

“We try to give a sophisticated experience that is welcoming to every customer with spirit guides that are well versed in our product selection to ensure we provide customers with exactly what they are hoping to enjoy,” Legare says.

Tastings at The BottleShop

The BottleShop offers educational tastings every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. To see the schedule of tastings, sign up for their newsletter at zandersthebottleshop.com, follow them @zandersbottleshop or check out the store at Zander’s The BottleShop, 12047 Donner Pass Road in Truckee, next to Paco’s Bike Shop.