Jutting out at an acute angle on the corner of Broadway and Elm Street, where Bellingham’s Columbia, Lettered Streets, and Cornwall Park neighborhoods meet, is a charming, pitch-roofed black and white building. It’s an oasis in both the geographic and figurative senses: ROAM Coffee + Beer offers all comers not only excellent coffee and a range of tasty food, but also beer, cider, sake, and wine.
Photograph by Anne Godenham
Owners Colleen and Chad Kuehl have run Wander Brewing for a decade, so they know a thing or two about running a small business in the food and beverage industry. As coffee-lovers, the addition of another type of brew to their repertoire was a natural next step.
“The decision was ultimately made the day we saw the ROAM property come available,” Colleen says. “There was a need in the neighborhood, and the space was perfect as it was originally designed and built as a coffee shop 25 years ago.”
Photograph by Anne Godenham
Perfect is exactly how ROAM feels, especially on a sunny spring day when visitors can take advantage of the variety of outdoor seating and spaces the location offers: from Adirondacks around a firepit in the shade to picnic tables on the small lawn in full sun. The interior is equally inviting: soothing blues and bare wood accentuate a high-ceilinged space that’s perfect for a quiet conversation with a friend or a few hours of remote work.
Photograph by Anne Godenham
And then there’s the food and drink. If you’ve tried Wander’s brews, you know the Kuehls make a mean craft beer, and the taps at ROAM serve nine of them in addition to wine, ‘beermosas,’ and a rotating draft cider or kombucha. The coffee is organic and roasted locally, and pairs perfectly with the range of pastries on offer (on a recent visit, I was advised by the general manager to nab the last Marionberry Oat Scone, which was tender and delicious). For patrons looking for something a bit more substantial, there are also three kinds of grilled cheese sandwiches on the menu, breakfast burritos from local food truck Luchadora Burger, and a seasonal salad that changes weekly.
Photograph by Anne Godenham
The Kuehls started ROAM with the goal of creating a community hub for the surrounding neighborhoods, and it’s clear that they’ve achieved that goal: during the half hour that I spent sipping my Iced Oat Milk Latte and nibbling on a Pesto Parmesan Twist at an outdoor table there was a steady stream of people meeting friends on the lawn, walking up to the to-go window, and pulling into the small parking lot at the wide end of the triangular lot. At 2 p.m. on a Friday, ROAM was about half full—I can only imagine how busy it must get on a Saturday afternoon.
When I ask her what her favorite thing is about ROAM, Colleen’s answer reflects my experience:
“Being at the literal intersection of multiple neighborhoods and observing the many ways our community utilizes the space,” she says. “That, and the drive/pedal/walk thru window and outdoor space to relax in!” 1205 Washington St., Bellingham, 360.671.3089, wanderbrewing.com/ roam-coffee-beer
