Josh Magnes believes there should be more late-night options for where to eat dinner. He and his business partners expect The Copper Hog to fit the bill.

Magnes, along with business partners James Hardesty and Aaron Matson, are putting the finishing touches on the restaurant, which is in the former State Street Depot space on North State Street in downtown Bellingham. They are waiting for approval of the restaurant’s liquor license application and hope to be open within the next couple of weeks.

“We really want to be established as a place to eat nice food after 10 p.m.,” said Magnes, who added that they plan to be open 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. “I’d rather this be a nice place to hang out.”

That also means they’ll be staying away from the live entertainment scene for the time being. He said they want to be known for their food first.

“We don’t want to have a place where we pack the place for music, then have the place empty,” Magnes said. “We’ll welcome college students, but we’re really aiming for the 25- and-older crowd.”

Along with being a partner, Matson will be a chef at the restaurant. Born and raised in Hawaii, he also spent time cooking at a pub in Ireland.

NEW RESTAURANT COMING TO BARKLEY

A successful Canada-based restaurant is opening its first U.S. location in Barkley Village later this year.

Browns Social House will be at the corner of Barkley Boulevard and Newmarket Street, in the Laurel Building. The restaurant will occupy 5,400 square feet in the top floor of the building, which features 17-foot high ceilings finished with walnut, black leather and original artwork.

“We’re excited to be bringing something new and special to town,” said Rob Walker, restaurant co-owner, in a press release. “We believe that Bellingham will be a great place for our type of restaurant and are excited to make the distinctive Laurel Building our newest home.”

There are four Browns restaurants in the Vancouver, B.C., area, open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Menus at those restaurants feature a variety of items, including fresh fish, burgers, sandwiches, steaks and Asian dishes.

For more information, visit BrownsSocialHouse.com or BarkleyVillage.com.

OTHER TIDBITS

A slew of interesting building permit applications have been submitted in Bellingham in the past couple of weeks. At the Depot Market Square, 1100 Railroad Ave., a plan calls for $140,000 in tenant improvements to make way for Ralf’s Bavarian Bakery. … In the strip mall at 505 32nd St., there is a permit application to convert a former Laundromat into a Chinese restaurant. According to the permit, the business name is QQLi Restaurant. … At 3960 Meridian St., tenant improvement plans have been submitted for the new Plato’s Closet consignment clothing store, aimed at teens and young adults. … Tenant improvement permits also have been submitted for Dolce Vanita Spa, where an estimated $80,000 of work will be done at its Bellis Fair mall space. … The Young Building appears to be getting two new retail tenants. Tenant improvement applications have been submitted for a salon called Jimmy’s Personal Care, as well as a new coffee shop.