TAPS Espresso Grub & Pub offers beer, coffee and tasty grub. 

With the familiar sounds of regulars laughing, pots and pans clanging in the kitchen and the perked ears of TAPS Espresso Grub & Pub’s four- legged mascot, “Kai,” it’s impossible not to be enticed to sit down and stay a while.

The pub, located near Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, is the perfect place to grab a coffee, grub or brew.

Owner Tracy Simpson moved the business to this location around two years ago. It all started with breakfast burritos.

“Our breakfast burritos are what people probably know us for. I used to make them for my daughters at home and now I turned it into this,” Simpson said.

Even with limited seating due to COVID-19, the sounds of laughter and chatting fill the small room with a welcoming ambiance.

The decor resembles the North Coast. Many items were made or gifted by regulars. Miniature log trucks and fishing boats stand above the bar. Special patches rest on the wall from various police departments, the U.S. Coast Guard and more.

Kai is a favorite around TAPS. He’s been going to work with Simpson since he got him from Texas a little over 6 years ago.

“He is pretty much my everything,” Simpson said. “He watches after me, he lets me know when things are going awry, he’ll just sit there and put his paw on me or jump up on me and chill me out if I need it.”

The pitter patter of Kai’s paws can be heard from time to time as he gets up from his bed to greet a new customer or make his rounds for pets and spare french fries.

Simpson said how fantastic it’s been getting to know the regulars.

“No one could have predicted COVID, using all my savings and doing whatever to keep going, that has probably been the hardest thing to keep afloat,” Simpson said. “Let’s just get COVID out of here so we can get back to work and do what we need to do.”