Thirst Trap Soda Shack owner Tera Gale continues to face uncertainty as Arkansas-based 7 Brew Coffee proposal targets a Battle Ground location right where her business operates today.
Gale thought she had found a permanent home for her business when she opened Thirst Trap Soda Shack at 805 W. Main St. in Battle Ground.
Now, less than two years after signing the initial lease, Gale is facing the possibility that the property could become the site of a proposed 7 Brew Coffee location, leaving her to consider whether she can continue operating her soda stand at the location she invested heavily to establish.
However, this is not the first time that a different business entity has submitted for a pre-application where the soda shack sits.
In the previous “Too Many Brews?” installment by The Reflector, Gale said she first learned about the proposal through this newspaper rather than from her landlord or property management. She said she was later told a lease had not yet been signed and that there could potentially be a way for both businesses to operate on the property, though she could have as little as four months to leave if an agreement could not be reached.
Gale said she signed her first annual lease in July 2024, though Thirst Trap did not open until November of that year because of work needed to bring electricity and water to the property.
The site plan shows 7 Brew's 510-square-foot building occupying essentially the same location as Thirst Trap.
After seeing the site plan for the proposed 7 Brew location, which does not include an option to coexist with Thirst Trap, Gale said the prospect has left her questioning the future of the business and the communication she has received from the property owner and management.
Property owner Bharwinder Singh's email on the 7 Brew pre-application document for the city of Battle Ground was invalid. Singh's LLC, Bagley Park Investment, also does not have any additional contact information, aside from a mailing address.
At the time of The Reflector’s interview with Gale a week prior, the site plan was not readily available.
“After just seeing the site plans, I'm like, OK, this, this is not incorporating me at all,” Gale said. “So it's just really disheartening because I wouldn't have put money into being somewhere if I didn't think of it as more of a permanent place.”
Gale said she does not blame 7 Brew for seeking a location in Battle Ground. Her concerns instead center on the property owner and the circumstances surrounding the proposed development.
“You know, I'm not mad at 7 Brew, either,” Gale said. “It's not them. Like, they're trying to find a spot just like everybody else tries to find a spot, but it's the landowner that I'm like, this is just very off-putting.”
Gale said she was previously told the property could potentially accommodate other businesses in a way that would complement Thirst Trap. She said she invested in infrastructure for the property based on those conversations.
7 Brew franchisee Rick Nader said last week his real estate team told him the existing soda stand would be leaving, though he said he did not know the details of Gale's agreement with the landlord.
In February 2025, just three months after Thirst Trap commenced operations, a pre-application for a Space Age Fuel Station occurred. Though the project did not advance beyond a pre-application conference, the site plan detailed the convenience store building going exactly where Thirst Trap Soda Shack is. The pre-application conference review was completed in August 2025.
After 7 Brew applied in August 2026, it marked the second time a business has applied for a location currently with a leased tenant. Gale said both times she only found out from Reflector articles, not from property management.
Gale said she is still operating under her current lease and has continued making payments under the existing terms.
The uncertainty has also affected Gale's employees, who she describes as being closely connected to the business and its customers.
“It's literally family,” Gale said.
Gale said community support has increased since information about the proposed 7 Brew location became public, with longtime customers continuing to visit and new customers coming to show their support.
“Oh, it means everything to us,” Gale said. “There are so many people who have stopped by and supported us … constantly.”
Some customers have suggested Gale simply move Thirst Trap to another location if 7 Brew moves forward. Gale said the process is far more complicated than relocating a stand.
“I'm like, do you know how much that takes?” Gale said. “Like, I wish it was just moving this and it's just going. But that's not how it works.”
Gale said establishing Thirst Trap required city permits, planning, payments and health inspections. She also said finding a suitable drive-thru location in the area would be difficult.
“I love Battle Ground,” Gale said. “I live in Battle Ground. I've lived here for six years.”
Gale said she has received offers to move to Ridgefield and Longview, but she wants to remain in Battle Ground if possible. A drive-thru setup is particularly important to her business model.
“I need it to be a drive through,” Gale said. “So even trying to find a place like this, it was hard.”
Despite the uncertainty, Gale said she has not made a final decision about leaving the property. She said any decision would have to account for her employees as well as the customers who have supported Thirst Trap.
If she were to remain at the location, Gale said she would want stronger written protections regarding the future of the business.
For now, Gale said she is still trying to determine what comes next while continuing to operate Thirst Trap.
“I'm still trying to just digest it all,” Gale said.
Editor's note: The Reflector will seek comment from Singh regarding an apparent difference in what is being relayed to Gale from property management. The Reflector anticipates additional installments of “Too Many Brews?” to follow.
