Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Tiana Gregg in the remodeled space.
Rumours, Sticky Fingers, Moving Pictures: the drink menu is set at The Congress in Palouse, the new establishment at the site of the former Green Frog.
More of a bar, with booths, chandeliers, hard liquor and tables made from the old Green Frog stage, the mixed drinks are named after record albums. Order a Blonde on Blonde and operator Tiana Gregg or one of her 10 employees will deliver vodka, lemonade, pineapple juice and ginger ale – with a plant-based straw.
The Congress opened May 10 at the corner of Bridge Street and Main Street, after being closed for two months after the Green Frog finished its run in March.
Gregg, a co-owner of the Green Frog with Paula Echanove, now co-owns and operates the new Congress, with partner Eric Jessop, a full-time faculty member at WSU.
“I’ve had this idea for awhile,” Gregg said. “To have a bar. I just felt like there was a need. Alcohol, fancy drinks make people happy.”
The menu remains largely the same as the Green Frog. New desserts include chocolate cake with a Jack Daniels frosting.
The hours have changed, running later; open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m., Sunday from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
“The Congress” name comes from a former movie theater in Palouse, originally the tall brick building that now holds the Open Eye Consignment shop.
Green Frog co-owners Paula and Michael Echanove (also Palouse mayor) sold their stake in March, after Paula ran the operation since 2005 with Gregg. The Green Frog first began in the building across the street – where Bank Left Gallery is now. In 2007, the partners bought their building, which previously housed a gift shop called Potpourri.
The Echanoves are still part-owners of the building.
“I wanted to be out of the restaurant business by the time I was 60,” said Paula. “It’s just exactly how I wanted to see it. I am so happy, you just put your whole life, body and heart into (a restaurant). You have to.”
In its 13 years in business, The Green Frog became more than its owners first thought.
“We got so big. It got such a following. It took off,” said Paula.
The operation employed many high school students along the way. Employees of The Congress are required to be 21 or older.
Otherwise, when it comes to the food, not so much is different.
“It’s just delicious. Just as it was as the Green Frog,” said Gregg.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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