A conversation about the different ways people shop has led to a new Bellingham business.

On Nov. 15, BevX360 opened for business at 2001 Iowa St. The beer and wine specialty shop is a hybrid of different ideas, said manager Shirley Dutrow. Customers can drop into the store to shop or call to have orders delivered. It also has a growler bar where customers can bring in an empty 64-ounce growler and have it filled with one of the 10 beers on tap.

The store is planning to have an online system available soon where people can place special orders and have them picked up or delivered.

The idea came about through conversations among friends and family members about shopping habits. With so many different ways to shop, owners decided to incorporate all of them into the business, Dutrow said.

The store has about 300 different products, many of them from the Pacific Northwest. The store had a busy opening weekend, Dutrow said, with plenty of customers providing feedback on what's being offered.

The idea of delivering alcohol has some complications, but the store is handling it, she said. Employees, who all have a server's permit, must verify the buyer's age at the time of delivery.

Once the store is past the opening stage, it will have tastings and workshops involving beer and wine products. A grand opening event is expected in December.

For Dutrow, who also was involved in designing the store, it's been a great experience to get the doors open.

"For me it's like Christmas everyday; I'm excited to come into the store to see what needs to be done," Dutrow said.

The store is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For details, call 360-483-0777 or visit BevX360.com.

LYNDEN MUSIC STORE MOVING TO ONLINE

After nearly 12 years in Lynden, Noisy Neighbor Music Inc. will be closing its storefront at the end of the year but will maintain a presence online.

The company began a storewide sale Friday, Nov. 23, that will continue until Dec. 31, said owner Larry Miller. While the store doesn't have debts, Miller decided it was time to close the storefront and focus on being online.

"I have a great group of customers, but more often people are making their purchases online," Miller said.

The business will hold many memories for Miller, including the fact he got married at the store - at the time in a different location - on Valentine's Day 2003. As a small-business owner, he had trouble taking time off without closing the store, so he and Tami Wasson decided to get married behind the cash register.

The store is currently at 111 17th St., in the Fairway Center. The store is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. In December, Miller plans on having the store open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

For details, call 360-318-1441 or visit noisyneighbormusic.com.

OTHER TIDBITS

A liquor license application was submitted to sell beer and wine at 608 Cherry St. in Sumas. The store name is listed as Shaanbir Gurnoor and the applicants are Gurinder Gill and Harbinder Kaur Gill. ... A transformation is under way at 7350 Guide Meridian Road as Big Steel Box in America is changing its name to Simple Box Storage. Simple Box co-owners Ross and Dave Black of Lynden have provided a variety of storage options to Whatcom County residents since 1997. Along with the name change, Simple Box plans to expand into other Washington cities in the coming months. For further details, call 1-855-855-4BOX or visit getsimplebox.com. ... Molly DenHartog was recently promoted to catering and events manager at Jake's Western Grill in Lynden. Her duties include food selection and décor planning. As the official caterer for headlining acts at the Northwest Washington Fair, Jake's Western Grill has fed celebrities like The Oak Ridge Boys, Heart and Clint Black. Call 360-354-5588 or visit jakeswesterngrill.com for information about the restaurant and holiday event catering.

Retail Tip Sheet runs each Sunday. Reach Dave Gallagher at 715-2269 or dave.gallagher@bellinghamherald.com. Visit his business blog online at http://blogs.bellinghamherald.com/business or get updates on Twitter at twitter.com/BhamHeraldBiz.

Reach DAVE GALLAGHER at dave.gallagher@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2269.