Several common threads surfaced in a year’s worth of local retail openings, closings and changes. One theme — not surprising for Bellingham — was beer. Another was the resurgence of Bellis Fair. And a few well-known national chains punctuated both comings and goings.
Since an exhaustive list would be exhausting to read, here is a selection of restaurant and retail highlights that got attention, and often coverage, in 2023.
Grand openings
Beer’s presence was notable in 2023’s Bellingham openings. Structures Brewing debuted a second location in Old Town, Great Northern Bottle Shop & Lounge opened downtown, Corner Taphouse set up in Fairhaven, El Sueñito Brewing Company entered the Sunnyland neighborhood and Larrabee Lager Company launched in Cordata.
Major chains clustered in Bellingham’s Sunset Square. By year’s end, Daiso, Boot Barn and Panera Bread had opened.
Bellis Fair brought in a number of new stores under the mall’s new ownership, from local to national. For shopping, Craftery Lane, AniMyNation, Just Cozy, Zorganics Cosmetics, Native Creations and It’Sugar opened their interior-facing doors. Food fans found Rock & Roll Sushi, Natalino’s Pizza and Tinto’s Coffee. Mammoth Mini Golf added fun, while Maxx Hair Studio stylishly cut in.
More personal care also popped up in downtown Bellingham: Gene Juarez Salons and Spas and Mains Hair Studio both opened.
While permitting delays were a common complaint this year, downtown visitors seeking food and drink had new choices including The Admiralty Lounge, Ay Chihuahua Cantina, Nana J’s Kitchen, Sweet as Waffles, Ramble Tamble, Raven Bakery, The Coffee Shop by Hammerhead Coffee Roasters and The Foxhole, which replaced Lorikeet Bar.
Outside of downtown? In the Fairhaven neighborhood, J’s Kitchen and Gold Fern Wine & Bottle Shop opened. D&Tea, Homeschool BBQ, Wanida Thai Bistro, Red Ginger Asian Cuisine, COA Mexican Eatery (in the former Latitude Kitchen and Bar spot) and Pizza Twist made their menus available elsewhere in the city. Further afield, Graham’s Bar and Restaurant opened in Glacier and Brando’s BBQ in Bow.
Tim’s Bike Shop set up in the shuttered Kona Bike Shop in Sunnyland, and WECU opened centers in Mount Vernon and Sedro-Woolley, its first branches outside of Whatcom County.
Farewells
It wasn’t easy being a vegan eatery in 2023. Sage Against the Machine and Quantum Leaf in downtown Bellingham both closed; The Fat Beet, which moved into Quantum Leaf’s old space, both opened and closed in the same year.
National chains with an area presence shuttered either before, or as part of, bankruptcy proceedings, from all Bed Bath & Beyond stores to two Rite Aid locations in Bellingham.
Downtown Bellingham restaurants and retailers wrapping up included Jack’s BBQ, Cosmos Bistro, JoJo’s Doughnuts, The Lucky Monkey, Black Fern Coffee, Mo’s Parlor and 115-year-old Vienna Cleaners. Darach Brewing and its taproom downtown had its last day just nine months after its grand opening.
Artivem Mead, a 3-year-old artisan meadery, is closing for good after New Year’s Eve.
In Fairhaven, The Old Independent Coffeehouse and adjacent Harris Avenue Cafe were closed by a tragic building fire in December.
Edaleen Dairy and Banter closed their Fairhaven venues, and Pizzazza also shut down in the Fairhaven neighborhood.
Other notable restaurants ending their runs: New Peking Restaurant and Mykonos Restaurant in Bellingham, The Heliotrope in Glacier and Nuthouse Grill in Lynden.
Changing circumstances
Owners, names and locations, oh my — the changes the year has seen. And the reopenings, including both Pepper Sisters in downtown Bellingham and the popular woodshop at Bellingham Makerspace inside Bellis Fair.
Addresses shifted for Bellingham businesses Redlight Kitchen and Bar, Holly’s Meat Pies, Fringe Boutique, Allies, Launching Success and the Whatcom Humane Society Thrift Shop.
Gallery Syre changed its name to the neighborhood-appropriate Cordata Gallery. New owners took over at Third Planet Boutique downtown, Diamond Jim’s Grill in the Fountain District and Cafe Blue and The Blue Abode Bar in Fairhaven and Barkley Village, respectively. The Sunnyland neighborhood’s Twin Sisters Brewing Company had perhaps the highest-profile online “for sale” sign that popped up — at $3.7 million.
Arrivals ahead
Expected with no exact dates yet for 2024 and in the works at the time of writing: a Chick-fil-A near Bellis Fair, a second Bellingham Mod Pizza in Sehome Village, a Texas Roadhouse restaurant in the Cordata neighborhood, a Fjallraven downtown (February) and another Westside Pizza at Lake Whatcom.
Also eagerly anticipated: the relocated Uisce Irish Pub, likely at 1409 Cornwall Ave. in downtown Bellingham according to a state liquor license notification backed by several heavy Facebook hints.
To that, and the new year of openings ahead, a hearty “Sláinte!”
(Editor’s note: Cordata Gallery is owned by David Syre, the owner of Cascadia Daily News.)
Frank Catalano is the former weekly business columnist for Cascadia Daily News and contributes occasional business reporting and analysis.
