Our Story

Hello, everyone! I'm Zaneta McKee. My husband Steve and I took on ownership of the Thirsty Hound Drinkery on 3/1/23, around three years after it was established by the previous owners. THD's road to today has not always been a smooth one. The idea of a partnership with the previous owners didn't work out. Unfortunately, the friendship that started this venture is no longer, but Steve and I were determined to make the most of our situation. We are beyond grateful for the people who made it possible to do so...our amazing staff, family, friends, and our customers both new and old, many of whom have become good friends...a wonderful bonus we were not expecting. We didn't realize that in the day to day running of a business, friendships can very easily form and evolve, and these relationships have definitely enriched our lives. We were blessed to take on a bar that already had great customers. We lost some in the transition but have gained many more. We love how diverse our customer base is...all ages, races, and walks of life. Our goal is to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable here at THD. It has been a pleasant surprise to experience the sense of community and connection that occurs within an establishment like ours, amongst our customers as well as our staff. We love that our little bar has been the hub for so many friendships and relationships developing. We hope to continue to be a favorite spot to gather for many years to come.
 

Here is a long-overdue introduction to us:
I am the daughter of a dedicated homemaker and an Army veteran who was awarded a Bronze Star in addition to many other honors, and who served in Vietnam and Korea. I am the youngest of three, and my sisters are also my best friends. Our mother raised us mostly by herself due to severe injuries my father sustained from a car accident while stationed in Germany in 1977, which abruptly ended his military career. He passed away of complications from his injuries on 12/3/89. Our mother was the strongest person we've ever known. She was so smart and resourceful. She endured many hardships in her life and persevered through them all. She passed away on 11/25/23 from complications related to dementia. My sisters and I, with the help of two of our closest friends, were blessed to be able to be mom's caregivers for several years until the very end. We treasured the opportunity to provide for her as she had provided for us while growing up. I've been missing her deeply. My desire to take care of others stemmed from my father's condition and his need for total care in facilities after his accident. Not fully understanding the extent of his injuries, at a young age I remember thinking that if I could take care of him, he'd be getting better. I became a nurse at age 21, over 30 years ago, with his memory as my inspiration. My specialties have mainly included physical rehabilitation, medical-surgical, critical care (neuro trauma), hospice, and oncology. I still work as a nurse part-time. It is part of my identity, and I am not ready to let go of that career, so I've been balancing both jobs. That would not be possible without the help of my husband and business partner, Steve. We have been together for 25 years, married for almost 15 of them. I was blessed with a bonus daughter as well, who many of you have met since she helps bartend for us occasionally... Madison (aka Mad Dog, lol). She was only 2 years old when she came into my life, and I can't imagine life without her.

Steve is the youngest of 3 boys and he has a younger sister. His father was an Army veteran and a longtime employee of Weyerhaeuser, and his mother was a schoolteacher. His father passed away on 1/15/06, but his mother is now 93 years old and is still doing well. Like me, Steve wasn't born in Washington but grew up here. We went to the same local schools, but 8 years apart. Steve worked in construction for 30 years and was a framing contractor, running his own business for most of that time. He transitioned to doing custom woodwork and remodeling for many years before retiring. He got bored in retirement and started a new career as a delivery driver a few years ago, which he enjoyed, but that job ended when I dragged him into this bar venture, lol. He knew that with my nursing career and also helping with my mom's care, I couldn't take this on without his help, so he gave up his job to go all in with me. We dove into this new world, needing guidance and help in the beginning. We made some mistakes and are still learning some things as we go. It was a challenge to try to maintain the essence of this great place while also making it our own, which many of you encouraged us to do. We are so grateful for the patience and support all of you have given us during the past two years. We appreciate you more than we can adequately express. We will continue to try to find ways to improve in order to serve you better. Thank you all so much for being on this journey with us, and thank you for being part of our THD family!