Whatcom County eatery celebrates 100 years as popular community staple
Tucked away in a quaint red building a few minutes outside of Bellingham is a 100-year-old business that has continued to be a Whatcom County staple throughout the years.
Rome Bakery and Market, also known as Rome Grocery, opened in 1925 and packs “a big punch in our little store,” co-owner Andrea Rowe told The Bellingham Herald. The store and restaurant serves a variety of artisan pizzas, deli sandwiches, freshly baked goods and pastries, breakfast sandwiches, beverages and groceries.
“The info that has been passed on to me is that the Rome Store opened in 1925. The building itself was built in 1915 down the road for a dance hall. Ten years later it was brought up Sand Road to its current location on logs pulled by horses to be used as a general store for the Rome Community. At the time, there was a Rome schoolhouse across the street, a church down the road and the Rome Grange where it still stands today,” Rowe said.
Since opening 100 years ago, the business has become a well known staple and favorite eatery for many in Whatcom County, as Rowe and fellow co-owner, Patrick McEvoy, continue to see the business grow since taking over.
“We have only operated the Rome Store for a few years now, but the answer to its longevity certainly seems to be the community around it. The community in this area is truly wonderful, and the local folks have been supporting it for generations. Being off the Mount Baker Highway has some benefits of being able to serve people heading out to recreate, but our focus is on the local community in this area,” Rowe said.
“So many local people have a connection with this place, and the stories we hear on a daily basis are wonderful. We feel a sense of responsibility to all those who came before us, and to the people in the area who have supported this for so long,” Rowe said.
“They come out for our farmers market, they come to the Grange Building for different events and the church close by has a vibrant congregation. There isn’t a whole lot to do here, but what there is, our community supports,” Rowe said.
Rowe said staying in business for a century does not come without hardships.
“Maintenance of an aging building is always challenging, but the building with its beautiful wooden beams also brings with it charm and a certain appeal. But besides that, the benefits are numerous,” Rowe said. “There are challenges living outside a city, such as dealing with septic systems, some issues with services such as a lack of internet options and even a couple localized power failures recently.”
As Rowe and McEvoy strive to keep the beloved business thriving, they also want to keep its history authentic.
“The Rome Store has been ‘The Rome Store’ since its inception 100 years ago,” Rowe said. “Patrick and I made the decision this year to make a name change to ‘Rome Bakery and Market’ to highlight that we aren’t just a convenience store and yes we make our own food! However, to all locals, it has always been and will always be the ‘Rome Store.’”
“We are trying to do our best to continue to give this community a place they can congregate, meet neighbors for coffee, come by for a treat with their kids, take an old friend, come on a date, and make their day a little bit more fun,” Rowe said.
Rome Bakery and Market is open regularly from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at 2908 Mt Baker Highway in Bellingham.
This story was originally published November 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
