Monday, Apr. 07, 2008
Bavarian bakery moves downtown
Depot Market Square is new location
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closeRalf Sigl has been a regular vendor at the Bellingham Farmer’s Market for years, but his business is about to become a more permanent fixture on Railroad Avenue.
Sigl, who owns Ralf’s Bavarian Bakery with his wife, Kacy, will move out of his home bakery into a 900-square-foot commercial space at the Depot Market Square. Sigl recently signed a lease with the city of Bellingham and hopes to be in the new space by July.
He is currently known for his Bavarian pretzels, cheese sticks and buns sold either wholesale or at the Farmers Market, but the plan is to add other bakery items soon. In the new space, they will be open year-round, adding a lunch menu and offering a sandwich delivery service.
“We think this is a great location, not only because we can continue to be near the farmer’s market and this growing part of Bellingham, but we’re right next to Boundary Bay, one of our wholesale customers,” Sigl said. “We can just walk over there with our fresh-baked product.”
Sigl was born and raised in Germany, moved to the U.S. in 2003 and soon after founded the bakery in Bellingham. Sticking mostly with wholesale customers, the business has been growing 30 percent a year.
While he expects steady business during the spring and summer months, he is also preparing for the fact the retail side might slow down in that spot during the winter months.
“During the times that retail is slow, we’ll continue to pay the bills baking for our wholesale customers,” Sigl said.
Sigl hopes that moving his business to the Depot Market Square is the first step to a more permanent market at the location.
“The market is something I’ve enjoyed very much and has made me feel like a part of a community that has caring people,” Sigl said. “I lived in a bigger city in Germany, and I didn’t get that feeling there.”
For more information about the company, visit www.ralfsbakery.com.
NEW GROCER IN BELLINGHAM
A Mexican grocery has returned to the Meridian neighborhood. La Gloria Market opened a few weeks ago in the former Tienda El Polivoz spot at 4140 Meridian St.
The new store is being run by Petra and Ernesto Apreza, who have operated a La Gloria market in Everson for nine years. At the Bellingham store, they’ll offer special cuts of meat and a variety of Mexican products, similar to what Tienda El Polivoz offered.
“The last store had a good customer base, so we’re hoping they will return and we can build on that,” Petra Apreza said.
The Bellingham store is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
OTHER TIDBITS The Meridian Plaza strip mall (near Burger King and Mi Mexico) soon will be going through a facelift, said Erin Sundean, a leasing agent for the plaza and owner of The Bedford Group. He said after a very slow period in January and February, there has been a noticeable uptick in inquiries from national retailers interested in that part of town. “It was dead for quite a while, but in the last month there have been a lot more companies looking at the Bellingham market,” Sundean said. … After 15 years in business, Sehome Cleaners at the Sehome Shopping Center closed at the end of March. REI will be expanding into that space later this year. … Eden’s Coffee Garden is moving from its current spot on Bellwether Way to 112 Grand Avenue, Suite A, next to Henderson Books.
Retail Tip Sheet runs each Monday. Reach Dave Gallagher at 715- 2269 or dave.gallagher@bellinghamherald.com.
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