POSTED: Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010

Whatcom County businesses are catching Olympic fever

With a little more than two weeks until the opening ceremonies begin, Whatcom County seems to be catching Olympic fever.

From a retail business standpoint, Greg Murphy has some big plans in the works. Murphy owns U.S. Souvenirs at Birch Bay Square, with a retail store and a museum full of Olympic products and memorabilia. Starting Feb. 9 and through the rest of the month, he's planning to set up tents in the Birch Bay Square parking lot, serving up sandwiches with his family's barbecue sauce (he owns Murph's BBQ Catering in Tacoma), a beer garden and a stage that will have big-screen televisions and a place for live music. He'll also have tables of Olympic lapel pins, continuing the popular tradition of buying and trading pins among visitors.

"We've starting seeing interest pick up in the past week," said Murphy, who has been to six Olympics. "We're selling more coats and jackets, as well as flags, with the U.S. being the most popular so far."

Murphy is also offering free classes on doing the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver on the cheap. He'll be offering advice at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, and Friday, Feb. 5. He's also busy organizing transportation from Birch Bay Square across the border.

At Apple Yarns, a knitting store in the Barkley District, owner Andrea Evans is organizing an Olympic knitting challenge. Knitters will check in on Monday, Feb. 1, at the store for its opening ceremonies, then start tackling a sweater project using techniques from Elizabeth Zimmerman, who is known for making significant changes to modern knitting.

Knitters will have the month of February to complete an adult sweater for a gold medal, a vest or small sweater for a silver medal and a baby sweater for a bronze. Upon completion, medal winners will also get Apple Yarns gift certificates of $20, $10 and $5. At Apple Yarns' closing ceremonies at the end of the month, there will be a fashion show. Details can be found in the newsletter archive link at appleyarns.com.

"It's just a way to have some fun and enjoy what's happening during the Olympics," Evans said.

OLD WORLD DELI MOVING INTO BIGGER SPACE

Chris and Anna Adams will be moving their business, Old World Deli, about a block north into a bigger space at 1228 N. State St., near Rudy's Pizzeria.

The 3,000-square-foot space will be triple the size of its current space at 1140 N. State St., Adams said. They are planning to be in the new space in March and are working on adding several new features, including an extra deli case. They are also planning to be open for breakfast and will be offering espresso. The deli will also expand its beer and wine selections.

The Adamses opened Old World Deli in June 2007.

OTHER TIDBITS

• Whatcom Plaza on West Kellogg Road near Whatcom Community College recently signed two new tenants, according to Keith Troske, a developer of the retail center. One is Westside Pizza, which has several locations in this region, including Lynden. The other tenant is a 24-hour tan and juice bar. Those two will join Anytime Fitness and Medical Diagnostic Laboratory at the center.

• At 1426 Cornwall Ave., a permit has been issued for Chocolate Necessities to do tenant improvement work. That spot is near the Pickford Cinema.

• Tully's has applied for a business license to operate a café out of the standalone building at 102 W. Stuart Road, in the retail center that is home to United Furniture and Sherwin Williams.

• A permit application for 960 Harris Ave., unit 103, (the former Chispa space) proposes to convert the space into an art gallery.

• Nimbus restaurant, 119 N. Commercial St, 14th floor, at the top of Bellingham Towers near Mount Baker Theatre, will start serving lunch Feb. 1, opening at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Retail Tip Sheet runs each Wednesday.