After years of planning, hard work and sleepless nights, Sam and Trista Glackler officially opened Exit 16 Sips and Scoops in downtown La Center with a community ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The grand opening event on Thursday, Sept. 10, brought together city officials, community members and Greater Vancouver Chamber representatives to celebrate the new business, which combines the Glacklers’ brewery with craft ice cream, food and a family-friendly gathering space.
“We started on this journey in September 2020 doing a production brewery,” Sam Glackler said. “Always kind of had in our head maybe we wanted to do a brick and mortar and have a bar, restaurant, whatever.”
The Glacklers said finding the right location was an important part of turning that vision into reality. They considered opportunities in other communities but ultimately wanted to remain in La Center where the namesake for their brand originates from.
“We had opportunities in Ridgefield. We had opportunities up in Castle Rock and it just didn’t feel right because it’s not Exit 16,” Sam said.
The former bank building became available in June 2025, eventually giving the couple the location they had been searching for.
Mayor Tom Strobehn praised the Glacklers during the ribbon cutting, pointing to their previous involvement in the community and their efforts to create opportunities for young people.
“They’ve invested in the future of the children in the city of La Center,” Strobehn said. “They invest in the community with the events that they host and volunteer for. It’s very well known in the community.”
Strobehn said the building’s transformation was the result of negotiations between the Glacklers and the previous tenant.
“I can’t be more excited for you guys,” Strobehn said. “This is a journey that is long overdue, and I think with your dedication, it’s going to be extremely successful.”
For the Glacklers, the restaurant is intended to be more than a place to eat and drink.
“We really wanted to make a community gathering spot and definitely a place for families,” Trista Glackler said. “We have six kids. We really wanted a place that had something for everybody.”
The business also features a dog-friendly patio and a menu designed around the couple’s interests.
“And we want to combine all the things that we love,” Trista Glackler said. “So not only is there beer, but I mean, there’s craft ice cream. That was a dream of ours.”
The menu includes beer cheese fondue, onion rings and other dishes incorporating the brewery’s beer. The Glacklers also emphasize making products in-house.
“Our tortillas are handmade, our sauces are made in-house, and they’re using our beers to showcase the flavor profiles, right?” Sam said. “Crazy good.”
The restaurant also incorporates Pacific Northwest flavors and local products through its savory waffles, homemade waffle cones and seasonal offerings.
“I mean, we’re really playing that whole waffle thing and Pacific Northwest flavors, Pacific Northwest liquors,” Sam said. “I mean, we try to do as much local as we could.”
The owners hope Exit 16 can also encourage visitors to explore other La Center businesses and attractions.
“I think that we hope that this location could be a landing spot,” Trista said. “People come and explore La Center. I mean, the river's beautiful.”
As the seasons change, the menu will rotate with seasonal ice cream and beers. The current offerings include pumpkin horchata ice cream, while the business also plans to feature craft cocktails.
The opening marked the culmination of nearly six years of work for the Glacklers.
“We’re both very emotional about today,” Trista Glackler said. “It’s been a lot of hard work, a lot of sleepless nights, and just a lot going into this.”
“We’re just super, super excited about being open and about being able to be what we envisioned that we could be,” she added.
With the ribbon finally cut in front of one of the largest crowds ever for a Greater Vancouver Chamber ribbon cutting, Sam Glackler welcomed the community.
“Let’s go check it out,” he said.
