Business Spotlight: Kelnero
Small businesses and the people who own and work in them are the heart of our Edmonds community. To keep our downtown thriving, it’s more critical than ever that we think local first.
In this new series, we will be highlighting independently-owned businesses, and learn more about the folks that make them run!
Meet Kali and Kris from Kelnero.
What is your favorite part of your business?
Hospitality and sustainability. We genuinely love to make someone’s day a little better and brighter, and so take real pleasure in creating a space that’s inviting and welcoming, serving great food and drink, and doing whatever we can do bring a smile to your face. We also love the opportunity to be a part of food and beverage systems that support people and the planet. We love our farmer suppliers, small vendors, and beverage producers that care as much about making the world a better place as they do about crafting a great product.
Why did you start your business?
Ever since we met eight years ago, we have dreamed of someday owning a business together. We both had roots in Edmonds and in hospitality and love the vibe of a great craft cocktail bar, so it was an easy choice to build Kelnero.
Why did you choose Edmonds for your business?
Kali grew up in Edmonds, starting with Montessori school at the Frances Anderson Center and making it all the way to Edmonds Woodway High School, and Kris grew up in Lynnwood (he went to Terrace). We wanted to start our first business where we have strong ties to the community and we love the burgeoning scene in the Edmonds Bowl.
What is unique about your business?
We hope to curate the largest spirit and cocktail selection north of Seattle and employ bartenders adept at helping you find the one that you’re looking for. At Kelnero you can find innovative original cocktails as well as most of the classics, and several hundred unique spirits to choose from. We also emphasize seasonality, locality, and community in our food and other beverage offerings, highlighting traditional flavors of the Pacific Northwest.
Why should people do business with you?
You should visit Kelnero if you like cocktails, great non-alcoholic drinks, Pacific Northwest food, or simply hanging out with old and new friends in a cozy environment. And because we would genuinely love to see you here.
What are you currently doing differently during this time?
We have adjusted our hours to close earlier in accordance with new state mandates, while also opening earlier on the weekends to enter the wonderful world of brunch. And we can now offer alcohol to go! We’ll make you a cocktail or help you find a bottle to take home for an evening in or any special occasion, and we can put together a kit for making your favorite cocktail at home. We pivoted to an online ordering platform to help you get takeout from us in a convenient, contactless environment. We are also doing our best to stay in touch with our community remotely – including upgrading our email platform, creating online cocktail tutorials, and even hosting D&D sessions online. We’ve expanded our outdoor dining options and temporarily paused indoor seating. In sum, we are constantly assessing our current offerings and practices and adjusting to the new reality of the moment.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
After getting married in 2015, we spent over a year traveling the world for our honeymoon! We visited Thailand, Cambodia, and bartended our way through Australia. Stop by the bar to see our favorite painting we brought home from Thailand—it’s the elephant in the room 🙂
Kali, you’re also a volunteer member of the Ed! Advisory board. Why did you want to get involved?
I joined the Ed! Advisory Board to get more involved in Edmonds’ city planning, budget spend, and downtown business community. I think Ed! is a fantastic way for small business to learn more about how our tax dollars are spent and have a say in this process, as well as get to know other business models and owners. I’m grateful for already having met so many wonderful people and learned a lot about how our city runs!
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your business?
We are evolving quickly in an attempt to provide you with great food and drinks safely. Check out our social media channels (IG and FB) to see our latest offerings, hours, and policies. Cheers!
Kelnero
545 Main St
Years in business: 1.5
Photos by Matt Hulbert
