Bellingham’s grooviest, ‘hippiest’ restaurant to close on May 1 after one more big party
Once proclaimed the grooviest restaurant in Washington state, Homeskillet is planning to end a 10-year run with one big fundraising party.
Owners Tina and Kirby White announced on Facebook that they plan on holding a 10th anniversary party 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 1, to raise money for Planned Parenthood and Whatcom Youth Pride. After the fundraiser, they plan on taking a road trip vacation. When they return, they plan on new uses for the building at 521 Kentucky St.
“We still intend to use the Homeskillet space as a creative and community hub and will continue to do our little part in our kookie way to keep Sunnyland weird, connected and generous,” according to the Facebook post.
In an email, Tina White said what she is most proud of in her 10-year run with Homeskillet is helping others, whether it is through fundraisers or just being a place people could go and connect with others. White said that many customers have said over the years that if they were having a bad day, they drop by Homeskillet because they knew they would feel better.
It’s also a place for milestone events, including those who would come in after their final chemo treatment for cancer, or take someone on a first date or propose marriage.
“We have been so lucky and honored and grateful to be a part of so many folx lives,” White wrote.
The restaurant has become known for many things in the decade that it’s been in Bellingham. As the breakfast menu became a big hit in the neighborhood, it’s small seating area made getting in for a meal a worthy challenge.
Keeping Sunnyland weird is definitely a goal for the Whites. The tone of the restaurant was set with Miss Velveeta Jones, the giant chicken that sits out front. Inside, the artwork and the items around the tables keep newcomers busy while waiting for their order. Early on, creepy clowns were in the one bathroom as a joke to keep customers from lingering there too long.
The restaurant was also discovered by television shows and websites looking for eccentric eateries to visit. Along with proclaiming Homeskillet the grooviest in the state in 2020, Onlyinyourstate.com named Bellingham the most hippy town in Washington. In 2016 Food Network Canada dropped by to film a segment for its show “You Gotta Eat Here!”
With May 1 being a buffet-style format, the final day with a full menu will be Saturday, April 30. Tina White said they wish they could accommodate more people in the final few weeks, but are not only limited by seating space but are limited “by what miracles can be produced by one man (Kirby White) in a kitchen the size of those on a food truck.”
As for the two organizations the Whites are supporting with the anniversary fundraiser, Tina White said both are very important to them. The Whatcom Youth Pride is having a festival on Saturday, June 4, so they are hoping to also turn over one of Homeskillet’s walls for them to make a mural.
“Whatcom Youth Pride is that voice and that place of belonging and support and what they do is so important we just had to do what we could,” Tina White said.
This story was originally published March 3, 2022 at 10:46 AM.
