Two people occupy the same space, at the same time, but at that moment they do not meet. Philosophically, this is known as coexistence, people living in a state of mutual support even though their proximity may not affect each other’s existence or actions.
The probability of being in the same place at the same time without meeting can be high, dependent on the number of people present, the location and the activity. Imagine you find yourself in New York City at the Statue of Liberty with 100 other strangers climbing the same staircase. And, 215 stairs later, you still haven’t met.
In the case of Britt and Derrick Lapiska, there were several other students present, they were just outside Philadelphia and they were in the same play, Seussical the Musical. High school students at the time, they were never on stage together until the end of the play, and still did not meet until they ran into each other six years later at a dive bar, also just outside Philadelphia and were introduced by mutual friends.
It seems the universe did bring them together after all, although now not only philosophically interconnected and interdependent as defined by coexistence and their supporting each other without knowing it on stage, but also in actuality, even though it had taken time for their paths to cross again. That night, after leaving the Puss & Boots Tavern, viewing the Big Dipper and messaging back and forth, they spent future dates camping, searching out great food and talking about opening a food truck.
Now married for 10 years, they have two girls, ages seven and nearly four, and a charming child- and family-friendly craft beer and pizza shop. Their journey to Bird Girl Bottle Shop began when having moved from outside Philadelphia to Delaware to North Carolina, they saw a listing for a home in Hilton Village, with chickens included, and decided their fate lay in Newport News. Approximately midway between their parents’ homes, sadly they lost out on the home but happily continued their search until they located a home that was previously an office and was still also zoned commercial.
The Lapiskas worked on their new business, nestled on a side street in Hilton Village and having purchased it sight-unseen except for pictures, for a year as they turned it into a small restaurant serving craft beer, wine and their unique take on unusual pizzas. Each week they serve a new “wild” pizza, such as their Two Bird pizza with kimchi, pork and cabbage, or their Sharpie Tattoo with bacon, egg and maple syrup.
Doing a portion of the conversion themselves, including colorfully painted stripes on the inside walls, the shop opened in Fall 2023 during the Hilton Village Fall Festival. On that Saturday, they sold 127 pizzas. Derrick and Brittney turned their side yard into an outdoor seating area with multi-colored umbrellaed tables. On sunny days mothers with strollers, babies, toddlers and preschoolers fill the outdoors with laughter, smiles and specialty pizzas. Indoors, children can draw on a chalkboard, read books seated on an overstuffed sofa covered by a blanket with whimsical dogs and cats or count the dried orange slices hanging in the front window.
As a nod to their time in high school plays, they named their shop the Bird Girl Bottle Shop after Derrick began calling Brittney “Bird Girl” when he saw her in a play as a peacock. And originally hoping to open a craft beer shop only, Derrick was told that in Virginia, shops serving alcohol must also serve warm meals.
After being told that turning the former office into a pizza shop would be like turning a bike into a car, Derrick and Brittney dug in, lined the walls with a huge variety of bottled wines and poured their ideas and love into the eclectically named shop, mixing Derrick’s pet name for Brittany with their original idea for a shop.
Oh, and by the way, Derrick played a Who from Seuss’ Whoville, the perfect match for a peacock, both cheerful, colorful, whimsical creatures!
TO THE POINT:
Bird Girl Bottle Shop
Address: 100 Hopkins St., Newport News, VA 23601
Contact: Derrick and Brittney Lapiska, owners
Phone: 757-525-2523
Email: birdgirlbottleshop@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/birdgirlbottleshop
Website: www.birdgirlbottleshop.com
