Business - Business News

POSTED: Wednesday, Jul. 08, 2009

New tanning salon fills a need in Ferndale

Karissa Clevenger and Clint Moeller are off to a good start by filling a need in Ferndale.

Clevenger and Moeller recently opened Tropical Rays Tanning Salon at Ferndale Station on Main Street, near Sonic. The salon has eight tanning beds and a variety of services. As you would expect, the salon has a tropical look, with bamboo in the reception area and fish tanks to create a relaxing atmosphere, Clevenger said.

"We didn't want it to look like your typical tanning salon, so we spent a lot of time creating our own look," Clevenger said.

Both owners grew up in the Ferndale area and recently returned. While driving through Ferndale, they were impressed with the new retail center. Both had a desire to start their own business, so after doing some research they felt there was a need for a full-service salon in the area. In February they signed the lease and were open by Memorial Day weekend.

"So far, the response from the community has been great," Clevenger said. "We've had many customers who said they had been going to Bellingham and they don't have go as far."

Clevenger and Moeller are running the new business themselves seven days a week.

"We want to get this business off on the right foot in terms of customer service, so we're both going to be here, getting to know them and what they want," Clevenger said of the customers.

Although there's an expectation business will increase during the fall and winter for sun-deprived Whatcom County residents, Clevenger is planning on building a customer base that uses the services year-round.

For details about Tropical Rays, visit tropicalraystan.com or call (360) 656-5720.

SHERWIN WILLIAMS EXPANDING IN BELLINGHAM

In an effort to increase its coverage area, Sherwin Williams plans to add a second Bellingham paint store later this year.

The company is moving into a 4,500-square-foot location in the new retail center near Wal-Mart, where anchor United Furniture moved in recently. Sherwin Williams will continue to have its paint store in downtown Bellingham and its floor covering store at 3550 Meridian St.

District manager Tim Polley said they have been looking for a second paint store location in this area for several years. This store will be similar in terms of products and services to the downtown store, which has been in Bellingham since 1941, he said.

"Bellingham has been a very good market for us for quite some time, and our goal is to reach more customers," Polley said. "We want to be there for customers that are coming down Meridian and all the residents in that area."

OTHER TIDBITS

• With its downtown branch completed, KeyBank is now focusing on interior remodels of two of its other Bellingham branches. According to city building permits, the remodels will cost $335,000 for the Lakeway branch and $487,000 for the Meridian Village branch.

• A new coffee and crêpes restaurant is coming to Fairhaven. Connie Shannon of the Fairhaven Village Inn said the restaurant will be going into one of the retail spaces at the inn. Shannon said the tenants are going through the permit process, which might get them open by the early fall, and plan to call the place Magdalina's Crêpes. Shannon believes the restaurant will offer crepes from morning to evening.

"We are so pleased to have them in this building," Shannon said. "We're always looking for tenants that can increase the experience of our guests and those who visit Fairhaven. This is a great fit."