Photography by Laura Wiegmann
What's Up? Media interviews Kim Lawson, owner of Fishpaws Marketplace in Arnold, MD.
A staple in the community, Fishpaws Marketplace offers a wide selection of specialty products and friendly, personalized service. Located in Arnold, the business is steeped in history—dating back to 1935 when Bill Fishpaw founded it as a liquor store, tavern, and service station. In 1939, a liquor license was officially issued to the property.
The establishment operated under various names throughout the years, including Bill and Etta’s Tavern and Bill’s Tavern, before becoming Arnold Liquors in 1982. When the Lawson family purchased the business in 1983, they changed the name back to Fishpaws Marketplace to honor its deep roots and iconic presence in the community. Kim Lawson became a partner with her parents in 1989.
The Lawson family changed the dynamic of the business—transforming it from a traditional liquor store to a gourmet marketplace that serves as a one-stop shop for its loyal customer base. In 2010, Kim became the sole owner, and she is proud to carry on the Fishpaws’ legacy.
“We aren’t a shopping trip but an experience,” Lawson says. “We are a premier shopping destination, providing you with an experience like no other. Our extremely knowledgeable staff always greets you and asks if you need help. Local delivery is also available for online orders.”
To learn more, we spoke to Lawson.
Photography by Laura Wiegmann
How has Fishpaws Marketplace evolved under your family’s ownership? We completed a major construction project in 2002, which doubled our square footage. After the renovations, we began focusing on food and added gourmet cheese and charcuterie. We also hired a certified cheese specialist. Most of our managers have food and beverage experience, so they can assist with pairing beverages with our selection of food items.
Tell us about your background in the beverage industry. I grew up in the retail industry. My family owned six gift shops in Annapolis, D.C., and Virginia, and a marine supply store. I worked side by side with my parents from the age of 13 at these businesses. My father was in the liquor business at the distributor and importer level, so I had a great mentor.
Describe your wide selection of alcoholic beverages. We source single-barrel whiskies and tequilas, which are one-of-a-kind selections, and buy whole barrels. Our beer selection includes imports, craft beers, and domestic beers, including IPAs, lagers, stouts, porters, and seasonal offerings, especially from local breweries. We also have a crowler/growler station with 12 tap lines and offer beer flights from the draft station.
Fishpaws’ spirit tasting bar features limited-release whiskies and tequilas, which are available to taste and purchase by the bottle. Our 16-station wine bar features one-ounce, two-ounce, or four-ounce pours. The bar consists of eight red wines and eight white wines from around the world. We rotate them often, so there is always something new to taste.
Photography by Laura Wiegmann
Photography by Laura Wiegmann
What types of gourmet food do you offer? We offer gourmet cheese, charcuterie, focaccia bread, and a huge selection of locally-sourced food items from Jimmy’s Famous Seafood, Shore Boys Soups, Squire’s Italian Restaurant and Catering, Wockenfuss Candies, VanEllin, Otterbein’s Cookies, Berger Cookies, and Always Ice Cream (including our curated boozy options).
We also carry a gourmet selection of chips, pretzels, hummus, and dips as well as fresh-baked, crispy French baguettes. Our baguettes are baked in-house or available frozen to reheat at home.
What are some of your top-selling items? Some of our top-selling items include La Marca Prosecco, canned cocktails from Surfside and High Noon, Squire’s Take & Bake pizzas, French baguettes, and VanEllin’s focaccia breads. An Italian sparkling wine, Prosecco, is great for mimosas or served alone, especially for brunch. The canned cocktails are perfect for boating, pool parties, and tailgating. VanEllin’s rosemary olive oil focaccia is so crispy and light with a touch of salt. It’s delicious!
Tell us about the tastings and events you host. We host weekly tastings, featuring wine, spirits, and craft beers, with our distributor partners as well as wine dinners at local restaurants. Our tastings are a great opportunity for customers to sample our products before they buy them, and our wine dinners allow customers to learn about a particular wine region or winery.
We also partner with Homestead Gardens for our annual Corks for a Cause wine tasting event to benefit Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation. A fun social gathering, Corks for a Cause allows guests to enjoy wines from around the world, sample appetizers from local restaurants, and support a good cause.
Photography by Laura Wiegmann
What charities do you support? We support the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce’s Holiday Taste and Sip, Severna Park Community Center, Maryland Therapeutic Riding, Arnold and Earleigh Heights Fire Departments, Friends of the Light House, Stef Ripple Foundation, Believe in Tomorrow Children’s Foundation, and many other local charities. These causes are dear to our hearts, and many are also recommended by our customer base.
Fishpaws Marketplace | 954 Ritchie Highway, Arnold | 410-647-7363 | fishpawsmarket.com
