FROM BETHLEHEM STATION TO THE WOODEN MATCH

The Wooden Match building features a rich history and we are proud to be the latest chapter in its story. Our restaurant occupies the building of the historic Bethlehem Station, a train depot that served travelers in the Lehigh Valley for nearly a century. Passenger service to Bethlehem began near this site in 1868. A few years later, the Central Railroad of New Jersey constructed a train station in 1873.

This building, known as Bethlehem Station, served passengers traveling to and from Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley for nearly a century. Hundreds of thousands of people — including notable figures such as presidents Teddy Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman — passed through before passenger service ended in the 1960s.

Following this, Bethlehem Station was repurposed as a restaurant that eventually became The Wooden Match, which opened in 2010. Many of the building’s historic features still stand, including the original brick building and the train tracks. Both the station building and the freight house (now Artisan Wine & Cheese Cellars) next door are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We are proud to honor the building’s legacy in Historic Downtown Bethlehem, PA.

Today, The Wooden Match offers delicious food, craft beer, and the finest cigars around in a historic atmosphere. We also host some of the Lehigh Valley’s most exciting events, including regular live music, holiday parties, and our famous Matchplatz during Musikfest each summer.

We hope you enjoy this photo & video gallery showing some of our building’s extensive history. Stop by for some grub, beer, or a cigar — we’d love to have you!