the Old Town Cafe

The Old Town Cafe is a special place for many people, both customs and workers alike. Often workers are cross trained and do many different jobs. Most jobs require the same skill and care to do them well and are dependent on one another and so are paid and tipped equally. If you are noticing you are helped by many different people, that’s on purpose!

We use as many natural, local and organic products as possible and practical and most items on our menu are made in our kitchen. All of our pastries are made in house, many with whole weat flour and unrefined sweeteners like honey and maple syrup. We use GMO-free expeller pressed canola oil for all of our cooking on the line. We are dedicated to reducing waste in every way we can including but not limited to recycling and composting.

We purchase much of our food from small local or regional stores. The list of our current vendors is located on the front of our menu.

HISTORY:

Housed in the building known as the Oakland Block, built in 1890 and listed on the National Historic Register, the space now occupied by the Old Town Cafe has been a restaurant for 90 years. In 1904, the space was one of the only African-American-owned businesses in Whatcom County, called The Mobile Restaurant. It specialized in short orders, an early form of fast food.

The space was known for its custom of open-door community through several owners during the course of the century. After The Mobile Restaurant, it was Matt and Millie’s place for about 35 years, serving the rough-and-tumble crowd from the mills. Then it became a “hippie spot” during the ‘60s and was officially named the Old Town Café in 1967. Its reputation grew as a place where people down on their luck could get a free meal. Current owner Diane Brainard began working there in the early 1990s, and bought the restaurant in 1995. While she described her early years as ‘running a café on a shoestring,’ a loyal following has allowed her to run a restaurant that prioritizes local ecologies and economies. These days, the cafe gives back by supporting as many local farms and vendors as is possible and by creating a cooperative, comfortable, creative and sustainable work environment.

Located at the in the heart of the arts at the tip of a triangle block in Bellingham Wa, Old Town Café has long been a comforting gathering space and reliable food source. Grab a seat at the big community table or wait for a booth or table of your own and enjoy simple whole meals made with care. Old Town uses as many natural, local, and organic products as possible and makes all its pastries on-site with whole-wheat flour and unrefined sweeteners. You’ll find plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options on the Old Town menu as well as variations of many of your classic diner faves. Local musicians can busk for a free meal on our patio during the fair weather seasons, and you'll find locally crafted art gracing the walls, rotating every 2 months.