New winery is coming to Bellingham, seaside restaurant expands, pumpkins are OK
Here’s a roundup of recent retail activity in Whatcom County:
▪ A state liquor license application was approved for Welcome Road Winery to operate in the former Black Drop Coffeehouse spot at 300 W. Champion St. (The Black Drop moved into a bigger nearby spot at 206 W. Magnolia St. earlier this year).
The space at 300 W. Champion St. is currently being remodeled for the tasting room. An official opening date has not been publicly announced.
According to its website, Welcome Road also has a storefront in Seattle. The Seattle location is geared toward wine drinkers who appreciate French wine-making but with an unpretentious Pacific Northwest Spirit.
▪ Whatcom County’s record-setting heatwave this summer left many crops damaged, but it appears local pumpkin growers fared well and customers will have some good choices leading up to Halloween. Four farms that responded to inquiries this week from The Bellingham Herald all said they have a flourishing crop.
It appears pumpkin growers in British Columbia were not as lucky, with at least one farm reporting to CTV News in Vancouver that it experienced significant rot damage from the heat and the ensuing heavy rains this fall.
▪ The Northern Light newspaper in Blaine is reporting that Drayton Harbor Oyster Company is expanding its restaurant/market operations at 685 Peace Portal Drive. The company plans to add about 500-square-feet of space this month in order to offer more seating and merchandise for customers.
▪ Wake ‘N Bakery in Glacier announced on social media that it is taking a shoulder-season break and will reopen on Friday, Nov. 5, for the winter ski season.
This story was originally published October 10, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
