Downtown Gig Harbor is trading in tasting flights for fresh bread. The former Heritage Distilling tasting-room space on the waterfront is set to become The Midway, a bakery, deli and market from local restaurateur Trish Huff. She is aiming for a summer 2026 opening, with the new spot planned as a daytime bakery and espresso bar that eases into an early-evening setting with small plates and wine.
Daytime bustle, evening ease
During the day, The Midway is expected to run as a busy bakery, a classic European-style espresso bar and a lunch-focused deli turning out breads, pastries, sandwiches, soups and salads. Later, the room will shift into an afternoon and early-evening hangout with simple bites and a curated beer and wine list, according to The News Tribune. On the market side, shoppers will find curated goods from local vendors, including jams, snacks and picnic-ready staples.
The setup is designed as order-at-the-counter, with grab-and-go options alongside seats for those who want to linger. Huff has described the feel as approachable and “small-town casual,” with an emphasis on local producers and baking done daily.
How the space opened up
The address became available after Heritage Distilling announced in a press release that it would close its company-owned tasting rooms effective Dec. 31, 2025, as part of a strategic shift to an asset-light model. The company cited changing consumer preferences and rising operating costs, and it invited customers in for final visits and club-member events through the end of the year. That decision left a high-profile vacancy on the waterfront, which gave Huff the opportunity to lease the space and reimagine it as The Midway.
The team behind The Midway
The Midway will be run by Huff alongside her brother, chef Nick Hosea. Huff told The News Tribune that Hosea has spent his career in kitchens in Seattle, New York and Barcelona, and that she has been hunting for a downtown Gig Harbor space for about 15 years.
Huff will continue operating Morso Bistro at 9014 Peacock Hill Ave, which describes itself as a wine bar and market and will stay open while The Midway comes together. The address is confirmed on the Morso Bistro contact page.
What this means for downtown Gig Harbor
The shift from a spirits tasting room to a bakery-deli-market lines up with broader changes in the hospitality world, where some beverage producers are trimming back their brick-and-mortar tasting spaces. Industry coverage has tied these moves to changing customer habits and rising costs, which are putting extra pressure on on-site tasting rooms. Investing.com reported on the market forces that pushed Heritage Distilling toward its decision and the wider headwinds facing small producers.
Timeline and what to expect
Huff’s team is aiming for a summer 2026 debut, with The Midway set to showcase local food producers through vendor-made products alongside its own daily baked goods. Morso will remain open during the build-out, giving Huff a place to test and refine menu ideas before the new concept opens its doors. A firm opening date is expected to be announced closer to launch.
