Seattle Coffeehouse Reopens After Fire
Less than a month after an arsonist destroyed Seattle’s popular Green Bean coffeehouse, it has reopened in a new, temporary location a few blocks away. The fire occurred on the early morning of Oct. 23.
The Green Bean, supported by Christian Reformed Home Missions, reopened for business on Nov. 14 in the home of another coffee business. For at least the next six months, the nonprofit Green Bean will use the space and will have its sign hanging outside.
Meanwhile, Randy Rowland, pastor of Sanctuary CRC which manages the coffeehouse, says he and the rest of the Green Bean staff are focusing on healing from the arson-set fire. In fact, Rowland and others from the coffeehouse plan to visit the suspected arsonist in jail. He is alleged to have started some of the 68 fires set around the area in the past two years. “We will go to jail to visit him, and ask him how we can pray for him,” Rowland says.
Sanctuary had been looking for a place to relocate the coffeehouse since immediately after the fire, says Rowland. Sanctuary, also supported by Home Missions, sustained heavy fire damage as well but has continued worship services in a nearby space. “We were fortunate to find this opportunity in this space.” The Green Bean is open seven days a week, 12 hours a day. It is staffed by volunteers, including Rowland himself.
Over the next six months, Rowland and a six-person task force will be evaluating permanent sites, including other coffeehouse spaces, and will be looking at resources required for potentially purchasing a space.
Known for its outreach, hospitality, acceptance of and ministry to the people in the area, the Green Bean coffeehouse was featured in the November issue of The Banner, the CRC’s monthly magazine.
Located at 210 North 85th Street, the Green Bean had been in operation since May of 2005. After months of remodeling, the once-decrepit storefront was turned into a bright, welcoming community space. The coffeehouse used its space to sell products that advocate for and support people and groups from around the world.
There were no injuries in the fire, except to one firefighter who sustained an ankle injury.
In the Banner article, written several weeks before the blaze, the writer said, "The Grean Bean serves as Sanctuary's front porch, and many people connect there first."
