Whatcom, Skagit unemployment rates drop
The latest unemployment data for Whatcom and Skagit counties showed a month-to-month decline in unemployment rates for June. The state Employment Security Department said that Whatcom had a 4.4% rate in June, down from 4.6% in May. Skagit County’s reported rate in June was 4.5%, a decrease from May’s 4.9%. The county rates are not seasonally adjusted so can’t be directly compared to the seasonally adjusted statewide rate, which stood at 4.9% for both May and June. Unemployment rates generally for Whatcom and Skagit were lower in the second quarter of 2024 than in the first quarter, reflecting a typical winter-to-spring yearly pattern. But rates for the two counties were nearly a percentage point higher than a year earlier.
Texas Roadhouse to open in October
A new Texas Roadhouse restaurant has set an October opening date in Bellingham. The chain, which touts its “hand-cut steaks” and other made-from-scratch menu items, has updated its corporate website to list a Bellingham location at 4331 Meridian St., “open in October.” Texas Roadhouse also applied for a state liquor license with a notification date of July 25 for the Cordata neighborhood address. “We can confirm the Texas Roadhouse opening in Bellingham, slated for October 2024,” a company spokesperson wrote in an email, “pending construction timelines moving forward.”
The Score opens in Ferndale
The Score Sports Bar and Grill opened July 26 at 2030 Main St. in Ferndale. The restaurant — which actively posted about its progress on its Facebook page for more than a year — wrote that it has now renovated the space, decorated the walls with sports memorabilia, stocked shelves with merchandise and “built one of the best sports bar menus in the world.” The Score said it opens at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and at 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Closing time is 11 p.m. or midnight except Tuesdays, when it’s closed all day.
Bella Rose Boutique closing in September
Bella Rose Boutique is shutting down in Bellingham’s Fairhaven neighborhood on Sept. 15, according to the store’s Instagram page. The boutique at 1134 10th St. said in a post that the reason is retirement, spurred by increasing operating expenses and a desire to spend time with family. A 2021 Bellingham Alive profile of owner Kimberly Hoctor said the idea for the bath and body boutique came during pandemic lockdowns when she realized self-care routines boosted her mood. The decision to close “was not made lightly,” wrote the store’s team in its post. “Bella Rose Boutique has been more than just a shop; it’s been a community, a place of connection and a labor of love.”
Top 100 Private Companies list released
Whatcom Business Alliance has published its annual “Top 100 Private Companies in Whatcom County” list. The rankings, based on gross sales in 2023 and presented in revenue ranges, put construction firms Exxel Pacific ($350 million and up) and Dawson Construction ($200-299 million) in the top two spots; machinery company Grizzly Industrial ($90-199 million) was third. Among other well-known names ranked: Peoples Bank (No. 8), Hardware Sales (No. 18), Barron Heating & Air Conditioning (No. 34) and Woods Coffee (No. 40). WBA said Whatcom County-based companies with at least $1 million in sales were invited to participate and submit data. The list appears in the July/August 2024 issue of WBA’s Business Pulse magazine. The membership organization also hosts events for Whatcom County businesses and public entities.
Frank Catalano writes about business and related topics for CDN; reach him at frankcatalano@cascadiadaily.com.
