Outdoor recreation is a big deal in Whatcom County, and the Bellingham REI store continues to grow to meet demand.

The Seattle-based company is working on plans to add about 5,500 square feet to its Bellingham store at the Sehome Shopping Center, bringing the total square footage to 27,500. The company is planning to expand into the space currently occupied by Sehome Cleaners.

The space should be ready this fall, said REI spokeswoman Bethany Nielson.

She said the plan is to add more selection, not new departments.

“We’ve done very well in Bellingham and have a lot of members there, so we’ve been waiting for an opportunity to expand,” said Nielson, who noted this is the second expansion of the store since it opened in 1999.

Nielson said they also are looking at adding more employees at the Bellingham store, which currently has a work force of about 65 people.

When the store opened nine years ago, it was considered a test store for the company, going into a community this size, Nielson said.

REI now has 96 stores in 27 states and will surpass 100 this year. The company had $1.3 billion in sales last year, a 3.5 percent increase over the previous year. It has 3.4 million active members who get an annual dividend.

As for Sehome Cleaners, owner KC Ko did not immediately return a call for comment. He did tell The Bellingham Business Journal that the coinoperated laundry is in the process of negotiating with the property management company to move to a new space.

THREE’S A CHARM

With the recent opening of his third On Rice restaurant, Ken Tipasathien is very busy these days — and that’s the way he likes it.

Tipasathien and his wife, Natthinee, opened On Rice Thai Bistro at the former Coppa restaurant spot at 1224 Harris Ave. in mid-January. They opened On Rice Thai Cuisine at 209 N. Samish Way in 2003 and On Rice Thai Cuisine & Spirits in the Barkley district in 2004.

As with the other two restaurants, Tipasathien traveled to Thailand to select art for the Fairhaven location.

It’s a rare site to see a couple owning three sit-down restaurants in a city the size of Bellingham. Ken Tipasathien said they’ve been able to make it work by focusing on one niche — Thai food — for all three restaurants.

“What I enjoy the most about doing this is it keeps me so busy, making sure we have high-quality dishes for customers,” Ken Tipasathien said.

What has also worked, he said, are the locations. All three restaurants are in distinct neighborhoods, so each restaurant has a different group of regulars.

For more information about the Fairhaven On Rice, call 676- 9995 or visit www.onrice.biz.

OTHER TIDBITS

A new Washington state liquor license application has been submitted for the Cedar’s Tavern spot at 2023 Main St. in Ferndale. The tavern closed about a year ago but Cedar’s Restaurant next door is still open. The business name on the application is Pioneer Sports Lounge and applicants on the license are Nikkos Greek & Italian Restaurant Inc. and John Tsoulouhas. … Last week Yoga Northwest moved over a block to the Harris Square building at 1440 10th St. Owner Ingela Abbott said in a press release that the new space has a better layout for her classes, which total 34 a week. A grand opening party is scheduled for March 26. For more information, visit yoga northwest.com.

Retail Tip Sheet runs each Monday. Reach Dave Gallagher at 715- 2269 or dave.gallagher@bellinghamherald.com.