Cheers
Cork Grinders brings style, culture and taste to historic Texas Avenue Cork Grinders on Texas Avenue celebrates its two-year anniversary this year along with the title of Baytown’s Best Coffee and Wine Bar, as voted on by the readers of the Baytown Sun. Bringing together the ambiance of a coffee shop and a wine bar, enhanced by wine-fusion cocktails, craft beer and food mixed in for good measure, Cork Grinders has quietly carved out its niche as a venue with something for everyone. The business at 206 W. Texas Avenue is owned by fireman and local entrepreneur, Chris Kelly; Baytown lieutenant Roger Park and mediator and entrepreneur Katrina Starling.
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HORIZON / Fall 2015
Cork Grinders opens at 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday for happy hour and dinner for families, and then runs into the evening hours for night life and entertainment. On Saturday, it combines the early hours of a coffee shop for brunch starting at 8 a.m. and stays open all day for lunch, dinner and into the late evening hours as well. (Sundays and Mondays are reserved for private parties, showers and business meetings.) From its inception, Cork Grinders has aligned itself with the cultural arts community and the rich history of the area. (The Cork Grinders location was originally built as a theater in 1926. The interior
décor features exposed brickwork that is popular in urban lofts.) The venue actively supports the productions of the Baytown Little Theater, the symphony, the library, the local live music scene, as well as the arts in general by exhibiting (and selling) the works of local artists and photographers. “Cork Grinders has gained notoriety as the premier venue for great live music in the Baytown area. Through our Thursday Open Mic Nights and live music weekends, we have become a launching pad for a number of the Bay area’s hottest up-and-coming local artists across all genres. It is an understatement to say that we are very proud to be a part of such a talented scene,” says Starling. Customers enjoy both the atmosphere of the restaurant, which is similar to what can be found in larger cities such as Austin and Houston, with the selection of craft beer and a wine list to rival some of the best in Houston – right here in Baytown. With events such as their “Wine Down Wednesdays” where patrons can sample and learn about wine; they are bringing a new level of culture to Texas Avenue. The partners say that, “It was always a goal for Cork Grinders to provide a venue with an emphasis on some of the finer things such
Weekly Event Line-Up at Cork Grinders:
Open Mic Night for Music (every Thursday) Open Mic Stand-Up Comedy Night (alternating Tuesdays) Lip Sync Battle & Try it Tuesday (alternating Tuesdays) Wine Down Wednesday with Game Night (every Wednesday) Live Music Features (every Friday and Saturday night)
as ambiance, great coffee and wine with food pairings - while drawing attention to the many talented artists who make up the performing arts community of Baytown, Texas.” When asked about the development currently in progress on West Texas Ave., Starling says, “We are excited about the potential that the new Town Cen-
ter Park and the beautification project will bring, not only to us, but to all of the small businesses in our area. Baytown has asked for a revitalization of the Historic District for a long time. We feel blessed to be in the heart of it and look forward to joining the city in their efforts to restore the area to a great place for families, students and visitors to enjoy. It
is a process right now while the construction is underway, but with the support of the city and our loyal customer base, we look forward to a very bright future!” Cork Grinders has a monthly calendar of events to participate in. For more information, check out their Facebook Page at www. facebook.com/corkgrinders or call 281-427-3260. HORIZON / Fall 2015
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