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The Boiler Room
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
711 Water StreetPO Box 1659
Port Townsend, WA 98368
(360) 379-8247
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
7 reviews for The Boiler Room
7 reviews in English
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Review from Battle M.
Austin, TX
12/27/2011 3 Check-ins Here
How to count the many ways that the Boiler Room has affected my life. When I was just a young 'un in middle school and high school, I was barred by my parents from visiting the BR because they viewed it as a sketchy, unsafe place. This was back in 1999, and as I've learned since, the BR is quite the opposite of sketchy and unsafe.
Fast forward to 6 years ago, I'm leaving Port Townsend for the midwest to finish up high school. My occasional, but very long, breaks from school were spent back in PT. I had nothing to do, and hardly any friends. I hadn't found a way to express myself. One of my friends mentioned to me that he was volunteering at the Boiler Room and that I should start doing so with him. I didn't know much about it, and my parents were instinctively against it, but let me go anyway. It paid tips, so what was the harm?
As soon as I stepped in to the new location of the BR (where it is right now on Water Street), I was blown away. The Boiler Room frequently has local youth art up in gallery form, for sale. The walls, the floor, the ceiling... everything is full of character. Words, pictures... people's thoughts, stored... protected in time, on the foundation of the building. The tables are quirky and fun, and the couches extremely comfortable. Come in on a lazy summer day and you'll hear the strumming of guitars and the harmony of voices that so precisely characterizes the indomitable and creative voice that has formed the backbone of youth culture in Port Townsend. Chess sets are available for those interested in a challenge, and there is always a good smell of coffee coming from the back.
Most important, however, is the people. Having been a barista myself and having met a great deal of other volunteer baristas, I can say that it is truly a joy to experience everyone at the Boiler Room.
Fast forward to yesterday, where I accompanied the same friend that got me into the BR the first time to one of the staff meetings. The meeting started out with a "favorite of 2011" and ended with "life issues" where each individual shared. It was evident that the BR is such a tight knit community of friends. It's got a strong youth vibe, but older people are always welcome and encouraged. I walked in today after meeting a bunch of new people at the meeting last night, and was greeted by a barista named Noah. He has remembered my brief introduction from the night before and carried on a nice chat with me while I poured my coffee and paid. I pulled out a nice tip to place in the jar, since tips are the only payment the volunteer baristas get, and accidentally placed it in the donation jar to support a youth in the community who needed health care support for brain cancer. I indicated that I had meant it as a tip for the barista, but he forwent the payment and said that it was going to a better cause helping this youth. I've already been blown away multiple times by the generosity and genuine nature of the people I've met here, so I wasn't surprised that he had done that, but I was still very impressed.
Do yourself a favor, and visit the BR often. The coffee is awesome, fair trade, roasted locally in Port Townsend, and it supports a fantastic cause that is keeping old and young, and even 20-something professionals like myself, off the street, safe, warm, and happy. I can't say enough how important the Boiler Room is and how much it has added to the community in Port Townsend.
If any of the baristas who were at the meeting last night (12/26/2011) are reading this, then this is what I wish I had said in my "life issues" report where I shyly passed:
"My life issue is that I've returned to the Boiler Room for the first time in a couple of years and am inspired by the perseverance of the people that run it. It sucks that I'm going back to Texas on Jan. 1st where I can't visit nearly every day for a hot cup of coffee and a good conversation, and where I can't volunteer and help the BR grow in any way possible. If I could have my way and not be concerned about money, I would devote 24/7 of every week of my life to helping the BR grow. Thanks for all you guys do!" -
Review from Noah A.
Seattle, WA
2/9/2012
A once Grand Experiment gone Horribly Wrong.
This place was fostered upon the notion of establishing a safe place for adolescents and minors to congregate whilst they also learnt the importance of social responsibility and business acumen. So, except for the (revolving door) managers it has always been staffed by teen volunteers (also known as 'free help'). It has also gone through almost as many address changes as it has managers.
Nowadays though it tends to be merely a hangout for nasty, sullen, disaffected youth (often on drugs) and bowery bum types who treat the place as their homeless shelter away from their homeless shelter.
And a pile of free condoms for the taking, in the bathroom ? ! ?
WHAT does THAT tell the 12 to 15 year old (& occasionally even younger) set who frequent this place in the afternoons ?
Note to the the Neo-Liberal clique who run the town (& support this, ahem, "ïnstitution"):
Permissive attitudes DO lead to casual experimentation simply for the sake of it (or perhaps yer own brains are so fried you can't even remember being a teen ?)
I've known many former denizens of the Boiler Room. Quite a few friends and even relatives have 'worked' here over the years.
Yet the sheer incidence of former BRers winding up in low-budget pornos and/or selling drugs or themselves on the streets of Seattle or Bellingham or Portland, and/or 16 and preggered and living in a shack in Hadlock, is well, just simply extraordinary.
The permissive attitude of many of the pseudo-progressive parents indeed extends (and becomes inculcated in) the employees who work here.
Best recent example: one of the local neér-do-wells (a known petty theft) attempted to make off with one of the musical instruments that the B.R. offers for your 'énjoyment'. The counterperson's response ? 'Oh, D----- [name of offender], bring that back, please'. The miscreant laughed, brought it back (temporarily), and then swiped something else instead.
I must say though that one redeeming quality to the place is that a cup of good coffee (2nd best in town) is still only one dollar.
But please, for your sake, get it to go. Otherwise, you will likely be insulted, accosted, or even ripped off by any number of the malevolent-minded regulars 'rebelling' against those who gave them this place in the first place.
Time to shut it down and start anew with an updated set of principles.
Meanwhile, it's best to AVOID. -
Review from Dorothy C.
El Cerrito, CA
2/24/2010
FREE SOUP EVERY SUNDAY
Face it.
Bill and Melinda can't be everywhere all of the time.
I'm not even sure if the Gates Foundation knows about the Boiler Room, let alone have known anyone to spend any time in its cozy environs.
We'll forgive the Gates family for not spending time hanging out to play chess with the teenagers or to help with the weekly "free soup" days.
Like I say, the Boiler Room, albeit a grand cause , is probably neither large enough nor important enough to have made it to their extensive list of charitable contributions.
But this review is for the rest of you...Melinda and Bill can join up too, if they like.
The Boiler Room *needs* your support. It needs you to pop by, have a cuppa joe, chat with the barista, and maybe even volunteer for an hour or two. It needs as a writers, chess players, artists or even minor league philanthropists.
It needs (and here I refer to a pamphlet by the same name )
"Boilermakers" who are willing to pledge small amounts of money to keep it operational. And that means...it needs YOU. And, as a perk, you'll get a nice IRS deduction for your contribution...it has Non-profit (501, c-3) status.
The Boiler Room was founded in 1993 as a place for local youth to hang out and quickly became a bistro/coffee shop for all ages.It remains to this day as a place of optimism, artist endeavor, and entrepeneurial energy for the whole community. Drug-free, alcohol-free, stress-free and cozy...its used by a wide variety of people as a gathering place, a sort of "water-front living room" where young and old feel welcome.
I popped by this Saturday. A young man gestured to me to come on inside. Coffee was brewing,
Chess boards were set up, and several were being used even on this balmy Port Townsend day.
Signs advertised free upcoming groups. "Write Your Own Life Story" interested me the most.
Several job openings were posted...with the most interesting (IMHO) being that of cafe manager.
Kids came and went.
Reading materials were stacked near comfy couches. A free bike repair clinic was being offered.
The place was (to quote directly from a prior reviewer) very funky, very cool.
I loved it.
So, I'm giving you this suggestion.
Give yourself a bit of good karma.
If you get to PT, wander into the Boiler Room.
If you live in PT, consider volunteering.
But if you want to "drop a dime" and give yourself just a taste of that old warm, cozy "I'm such a good person " vibe, send a buck to:
The Boiler Room
PO Box 1659
Port Townsend, WA 98368
*Scott Wilson of the Port Townsend Leader thanks you.
*Various churches in the area thank you.
*Local teenagers and parents thank you.
*And*
(you knew I'd get to this )
*I thank you.Listed in: "Buddy, Can You Spare A…
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Review from Julia Z.
1/12/2008 4 photos
The Boiler Room is on Water Street, near the police station, on the bay side. It's a volunteer-run coffee house, and that's the kind of place that's exactly the heart and soul of the Port Townsend we love. It's been open since 1993, which is amazing, honestly.
The coffee was great (Caffe Vita), prepared by friendly baristas who knew their craft (they're volunteers, remember?), and it was cheap. The room is funky and friendly, decorated with a lot of art and atittude... and they have all kinds of events going on there all the time... poetry slams, music, a book signing last month by William Shatner (damn, how did we miss THAT?), card games, and so it looked like if you became a regular of the joint (and especially probably if you volunteered) you'd be able to talk them into hosting the community event for your passion. The schedule's on the website (above) if you want to check it our before you go.
There's bike parking, a water bowl for the doggies, and a little seating area out back near the bay for when the weather's nice (it wasn't).. Normal hours seemed a bit restricted but hey, they're just volunteers, and they are open later into the evenings when there's an event happening.
If you visit PT for the day, hit Tyler's for your first cuppa the day and then have your after-lunch brew at this great place and check out what the kids are up to. It's all good as far as I can see. :-)Listed in: Port Townsend
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Review from Dani M.
Seattle, WA
2/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is probably the coolest coffee shop I have ever been in! The bagged sandwiches and soup are free but they sell Top Ramen and baked goods. The coffee is $1 for a cup but if you bring in your own mug you get a free refill. The coffee is not bad; mild acidity with a nice chocolate afternotes. Plus free wifi, I would suggest this shop for anyone in or passing through Port Townsend.
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Review from Crystal H.
Kingston, WA
3/1/2011
I love the concept of this place. It's a non-profit coffee shop that supports the community and gives the youth a safe cool place to hang. The people who work there are volunteers and they have free soup on some days and even free jackets if there happens to be someone in need. No drugs, booze or smoking around there! :) I wish there was a place like this where I live.
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Review from E. C.
Vancouver, WA
8/11/2008
It started out with an innocent question, "Do you know where the Boiler Room is?" We didn't of course, as we were visiting Port Townsend for only for the second time. Next thing I know we are standing right in front of the place. Initially, when we met the man who asked the question on Water Street, I was thinking it was some kind of biker bar. No, its a coffee/tea house on Water Street. Its very funky, very cool, serves great chai tea and mochas (and everything in between), and the volunteer staff are nothing short of awesome. The night we stumbled across the Boiler Room it was the first night of the Port Townsend Annual Country Blues Festival, and our guiding angel (man with the question) was looking for it, as there was going to be a fee concert featuring several of the blues performers from the festival. Just our luck, we walked in, ordered our teas, sat down, and fifteen minutes later Reverend Robert Jones and his wife took the stage (just the front part of the cafe). Wow, that's all I can say.
Why did you need to read this story about my discovery of the Boiler Room? I have this feeling that this kind of place will almost always deliver an interesting experience, so you must check it out. We went back the next morning to get my daily mocha, and even though they were not open, the two guys getting the cafe ready, invited us in and made me a delicious mocha and told us the story of the Boiler Room. Its a non-profit organization who's mission is "to support the expression and activities of youth as part of our larger community in a healthy and productive way." Basically, its geared towards providing a positive environment for the local youth to have a place to go to that's safe, fun, and creatively inspiring. They host various traveling musicians, other performing artists, you name it, they will probably host it. All the staff who run the place are volunteers. I couldn't get over how friendly everyone was and how they seemed to be enjoying themselves. Not exactly the experience when you go into a Starbucks or like kind of coffee shop. The Boiler Room is providing a place for youth, but believe me the crowd I saw was very diverse, and I was told that was typical. Don't miss this experience if you find yourself in Port Townsend.
