A new restaurant is taking over Carnal’s downtown Bellingham space after closure
Less than a month after Carnal listed its Bellingham restaurant location for sale, a new restaurant group has purchased the space and will be moving in soon.
“We had a massive amount of interest in this location, which makes sense considering how legendary the address is,” owner Skip Williamson told The Herald on Sept. 29. “After narrowing it down to two incredible options — a James Beard Award–winning chef from Colorado and a young local family with an already successful restaurant here in Bellingham — we ultimately chose to keep the space in the hands of someone local.”
Although Carnal will not close until November 1, the new tenants are already preparing to take over the space.
“That local operator is the team behind Thai Maison,” Williamson said. “They’ll be transforming the Carnal space into a modern izakaya-style Japanese restaurant — a vibrant, elevated take on Japan’s classic neighborhood tavern. Expect charcoal-grilled skewers cooked over the existing wood-fire hearth, crisp karaage, seasonal plates, and a full bar anchored by the Suntory Toki Highball Machine for perfectly chilled, hyper-carbonated highballs. The concept is designed to bring late-night energy and casual sophistication under one roof.”
“For us, it came down to community: a young local family with proven success, passion for the neighborhood, and a vision we believe will serve Bellingham best. We’re excited to see the next chapter for this space and proud that it will continue to be a place people gather for great food and good times.”
Carnal is currently open from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday at 1234 N State St. in downtown Bellingham.
