What do you get when you combine a bottle shop, taphouse, cafe, and catering business under a single roof? Greene’s Corner, of course! If you haven’t checked it out yet, this budding community hub at 2208 James Street should be your next stop for beer in Bellingham.
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Photo by Sarah Climaco[/caption]
Owners Lance Bailey and Kristine Kager first opened Greene’s Corner: Bistro, Market, and Bottleshop in North Bellingham in 2008. The business moved to a more central space in the heart of Sunnyland in December 2016. With Coconut Kenny’s next door and Kulshan Brewing just up the road, the arrival of Greene’s Corner has transformed Bellingham’s Sunnyland neighborhood into a walkable hotspot for lovers of beer and food.
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Greene's Corner cafe seating. Photo by Brandon Fralic[/caption]
Greene’s Corner is an eclectic community space. Inside, one entire wall is lined with beer. The rest of the room feels more like a cozy cafe than a bar — think Elizabeth Station meets your favorite coffee shop. A variety of seating options suit the space well. Choose from the bar, high and low tables, benches and comfy chairs by the wall-mounted electric fireplace. There’s even a full-size indoor picnic table for those interested in rainy-day picnicking. A few outdoor tables provide sunny day seating on the patio.
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Photo courtesy of Greene's Corner[/caption]
The vibe is decidedly relaxed throughout Greene’s Corner. Street-facing windows let in plenty of natural light. Decor ranges from brewery signs and wine barrels to colorful paintings of cows and chickens — a seemingly odd assortment, but it absolutely works. A basket of toys in the corner signals that this is a family-friendly space. Lance confirms my suspicion, adding that he and Kristine designed their shop with kids in mind. Chalk is available, and children are encouraged to add their artwork to the chalkboard at the front counter.
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Step up to the counter for a wide variety of food options. As the owners of Fool’s Onion Catering, Lance and Kristine bring a combined three decades of professional food preparation experience to Greene’s Corner. It’s no surprise, then, that they focus on the food. A full sandwich menu features everything from subs to wraps, tacos and quesadillas. The pizza menu is equally impressive, with 18 specialty pies and pizza by the slice.
Photo by Sarah Climaco[/caption]
Lance tells me that beer is secondary to the food at Greene’s Corner. This is a notable difference between Greene’s Corner and other tap houses and bottle shops in the region, where food production is often outsourced to local food trucks. With their in-house kitchen, Greene’s Corner is the place to go for a mixed group of foodies and beer enthusiasts. No one will be disappointed because there’s something for everyone.
Despite focusing on food, no compromises are made in the beer department here. Greene’s Corner offers 250-300 varieties of packaged beer at any given time. Bottles and cans may be consumed onsite (with a modest corkage fee) or taken to-go. There are 16 rotating taps round out the offerings, with two reserved for cider. Wine, kombucha, and coffee are available as well. Local products dominate throughout — you’ll primarily find beverages made here in Bellingham and the greater Pacific Northwest.
Photo by Sarah Climaco[/caption]
During happy hour (2 p.m. - 6 p.m. daily) Greene’s Corner features a $5 food menu and waives corkage fees on packaged beer.
Attention deal seekers: this just might be the most affordable craft beer happy hour in town. Outside your own living room, where else can you drink a bottle or can of locally-brewed beer at retail pricing?
Photo courtesy of Greene's Corner[/caption]
Greene’s Corner offers music three nights a week, typically Tuesday - Thursday. Stop by for Open Mic and Poetry Night each Wednesday, or Jazz Jam on Thursdays. Sunday is trivia night at Greene’s Corner.
Lance also occasionally hosts vertical tastings of cellared beers like Fremont B-Bomb. Keep an eye out for Bellingham Beer Week events in April; check their events calendar and Facebook page for details.
Lance and Kristine pride themselves on running an environmentally conscious business. Lance estimates that 98% of their waste is composted or recycled — a huge accomplishment for the environment. Additionally, Greene’s Corner donates proceeds from all recycled cans to a local cause or charity through their #CansforaCause program.
Hours: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily
Greene’s Corner is located at the corner of James and Virginia streets in Bellingham’s Sunnyland neighborhood.
2208 James St, Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 306-8137
