Down on the corner

The Corner Club has had many identities over the years before opening in 1948 — church, convent and brewery.

But for owner Marc Trivelpiece, it has had even more.

It’s a place where he worked in college, hung out with his fraternity brothers and met his wife, Stacey. It’s a place that made such an impact on him that he bought it in 2007, and it’s a place his son will one day take over.

However, when he first entered the bar, Trivelpiece said he didn’t understand its allure.

“I came in on my 21-run and was just kind of like, ‘OK, this is it? This is what you guys are always talking about. I don’t get it,’” the University of Idaho alumnus said. “And the more time you spend here, the more you do get it.”

He isn’t quite sure exactly why the Corner Club is so special to the Moscow community, but is humbled by the support.

Olivia Heersink | Argonaut
The outside of the Corner Club.

“I can’t put my thumb on it — it’s just a cinderblock rectangle with concrete floors,” he said. “But yet, people are so nostalgic for it.”

As the bar’s third owner, Trivelpiece said he maintains a balance between staying true to tradition and deviating whenever necessary, a rarity.

The walls remain filled with Vandal mementos, alcohol memorabilia and sports apparel. While underneath each table, various articles and photos can be found, detailing the bar’s more than 70-year history.

However, it doesn’t matter if it’s 1948 or 2019, the Corner Club remains a space for all people to unwind, relax and share a drink.

“Everybody is equal here. I don’t care if you are a judge or a custodian, you have to treat the other person with respect if you want to be here,” he said. “It’s kind of the unofficial meeting place for Moscow residents and University of Idaho students, athletes and employees.”

Apart from trying new beers, the primary reason he enjoys his job is the relationships he’s built as a patron, bartender and owner throughout his decades-long love affair with the Corner Club.

“I’ve created awesome relationships that I never would’ve had that opportunity to do if I wasn’t here doing this,” Trivelpiece said. “The customers make it pretty easy to own and run a bar.”

He’s also enjoyed watching college students go from the “irresponsible 21-year-old” to finding their place in the world. Since many of Trivelpiece’s employees are undergraduates, that transition often hits much closer to home for him.

“It’s like having more teenagers than I already do have,” he said. “I’ve probably got 50 to 60 employees who are now off doing great things, getting married and starting families or beginning their careers — all spectrums of the gamut.”

Like Trivelpiece, Kirsten Forster is a fan of tradition, which is why she wanted to work at the Corner Club before she ever entered its doors.

“I didn’t know what I was getting myself into and it’s not at all what I thought it was going to be,” said the UI fourth-year student, who was hired about a year ago. “It’s even better, and I know that sounds cliche or cheesy, but it’s true. It’s just been so much fun.”

Forster said she didn’t think she would get the job at first.

Olivia Heersink | Argonaut
Kirsten Forster pours a pint of beer during her shift at the Corner Club April 18.

However, he called her the next day, offering her the position.

While Forster credits the bar’s success to the people who frequent the establishment, she believes it wouldn’t be as great of an environment to work or visit if Trivelpiece wasn’t the owner.

“We really lucked out,” she said. “I just love being here.”

Each weekday, Trivelpiece can be found behind the bar he first started working at in 1996, even serving some of the same customers he did more than 20 years ago. He knows what concoction to put down in front of them before they even utter a word.

Once his shift ends, he takes a seat on the other side, drinking among friends, employees and strangers, with each on an even playing field — the exact purpose of the Corner Club.

“You’ve got judges, lawyers, truck drivers, custodians, plumbers and business owners. They’re all sitting down having a drink and they’re all equal,” Trivelpiece said. “This is a place that appeals to different people from all walks of life, and that’s how I want it — that’s how it’s always been.”

Olivia Heersink can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @heersinkolivia