Looking for a bit of the outdoors in your bar? Bellingham has a new spot for you
A new downtown bar is going out of its way to make outdoor recreation enthusiasts feel right at home.
Helen Neville recently opened 542 at 215 W. Holly St., near Bayou On Bay. The theme of the bar is a nod to all things you can see and do on the Mt. Baker Highway, with plenty of memorabilia and pictures furnishing the space. The idea came from her husband Michael Taylor, a local radiation oncologist who is also an avid skier, hiker and backcountry enthusiast.
The new establishment represents a business pivot for Neville, who ran the salad bar/sandwich/soup shop called Mix in that spot for about 10 months. Neville said Mix started off well, particularly for lunches, but the dynamic of that area quickly changed with the growing popularity of nearby nightspots. 542 is wedged between bars including Boy Howdy, Black Sheep and Jack’s.
“The night scene in this area has improved so much, even in the past year,” Neville said.
Neville said she also learned that the Bellingham market supports one Mix shop, so she’s focusing on the one she has in Barkley Village. She is also working on Seven Flavors, a Mediterranean restaurant that is expected to open in a few months on the corner of Railroad Avenue and East Magnolia Street.
With 542, Neville said they are focused on making it a friendly, fun place to hang out where people can share their experiences, particularly of the outdoors. They have a system set up where people can show some of their mountain bike and ski experiences on the big screen television.
They will also be connecting with community events, like becoming a sponsor for Ski to Sea. The bar’s mascot Sasquatch can also be spotted around town, letting people know about the establishment.
The bar itself will open at 11 a.m. every day and have a food menu. Items include chicken wings, steak sliders and soup in a sourdough bowl. Mixed drink names will have a Mount Baker area theme and there will be beer, cider and wine available.
For further details about the bar, visited 542’s Facebook page.
This story was originally published March 1, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
