She doesn't even like craft beer. That's what she tells Gale when he explains his latest idea to open a craft brew distillery in the heart of the Seam where they both grew up. Surly, rich Haymitch Abernathy, who despite his money has never lost ties to the area, is providing the seed money to get the brewery up and running and Katniss has to laugh because it couldn't be more appropriate. Although she's pretty sure Haymitch prefers a much stronger drink.
"You'll see, Catnip," Gale tells her, "This is the latest trend. With all the new restaurants and businesses going in down here, a brewery is just the thing. Katniss just shakes her head. She may disagree that this is a good idea, but of course she hopes it's a success. He is her best friend, after all.
By the time the brewery, which Gale named "The Hob," is up and running, there are at least five restaurants and a rock climbing business already open nearby. About 50 people show up opening night to sample one of the three offerings brewed on site. Within a week, word has spread that they're serving one of the best beers in town, and by the next Friday night, business has doubled.
Most of the warehouse space purchased to run the brewery is devoted to the actual brewing and canning process, leaving only a small front space partitioned off for the bar. Despite being part of converted warehouse, Gale has managed to make the place appealing, with a large stainless steel bar and red leather covered bar stools. Teardrop style lighting illuminates the clean, open space and additional stainless steel tables provide places for large or small groups to gather and socialize.
The more popular The Hob becomes, the more patrons spill out onto the sidewalk and it is Katniss' idea to put tables and chairs outside for more seating. Soon Gale is re-investing profits in order to increase the number of batches he brews. When other bars in the more affluent business district start requesting his beer, he is truly in a situation where demand is greater than supply. So naturally he increases his batches yet again.
Katniss finds herself at the brewery more often than she initially imagined. It's actually pretty quiet during the weekdays, and only really becomes intolerable—filled with all the well-off people from the other side of town—on Friday and Saturday nights.
She's sitting at the bar on a Tuesday night, one of only about 5 people in the place, when Gale let's her in on his next great idea.
"A running club?" she asks, her voice raising several octaves in disbelief. She's sure she heard him wrong.
"Yeah, you see all those rich people who come down here on the weekend to eat at these restaurants and hang out in The Hob, what do you think they're doing right now on a Tuesday night?" Gale asks, turning to replace one of the glasses he just wiped clean after removing it from the steamer.
Katniss leans heavily on her elbows, which are perched on the stainless steel top of the bar. "I could give a crap what they're doing right now," she says with a snort.
Gale rolls his eyes, glancing over at Haymitch who is nursing a glass of straight vodka. He's the only person allowed to bring his own liquor into the bar and the only one who would rather drink it than the craft beers Gale has on tap.
"They're all exercising," Gale says, continuing his explanation. "They work all day in their stuffy office jobs and then they go home and head out on a run to blow off some steam. And also because they are very health conscious, I guess." At this, Haymitch grunts.
"So you want them to run around here instead?" Katniss asks, becoming exasperated. "How does that help you sell beer?"
"I read about it," Gale tells her, turning again to replace more clean glasses on the shelf. "All these big brewing companies up in the Capitol do it all the time. What we do is we host a running club—have them meet here once or twice a week—and by default we either gain customers who want a cold beer after, or if they don't feel like drinking, they at least socialize and make the place look busy. That draws in other people and in no time we're filling this place up on a Tuesday night." He winks at her as if he's just shared the secrets of the world.
Katniss shakes her head. "I still don't see how a running club is going to bring anything but a bunch of stuck up yuppies in here."
Gale sighs loudly. "You'll see, Catnip. Besides, I thought you'd like the idea; you run all the time."
It's true, she does. It's a great way to clear her mind after a long day of poring over lab results in her job as a biologist at the local university. But she prefers to run alone and not as part of some made up running club. She narrows her eyes suspiciously at Gale. "Heyyyyy, don't think you're going to get me to head up this stupid running club of yours."
Gale chuckles at her, shaking his head slightly. "Wouldn't dream of it Catnip."