Here are 19 Whatcom County restaurants that closed their doors in 2025
Throughout 2025, Whatcom County had 19 restaurants close permanently. Here’s our list of bars, coffee shops, bakeries and more that closed their doors within the last year:
Narrative Coffee
Narrative Coffee, an Everett-based coffee company and from-scratch kitchen, closed Feb. 22 on the location’s three-year anniversary.
“Industry wide, the last handful of years have been tough times for businesses like ours. Our cafe in Bellingham is a small, neighborhood spot (which we love), but simply put it has not been able to garner enough support to make keeping the doors open up north sustainable for us,” a social media post from the business states.
Narrative Coffee was at 1400 W. Holly St. in Bellingham.
Jack in the Box
Lynden’s Jack in the Box fast food restaurant closed Feb. 17, 2025. It was located at 8083 Guide Meridian Road. Jack in the Box has open locations in Bellingham, Ferndale and Blaine.
Bella Ciao and Nacho Problems
Bella Ciao Pizza Tavern, a pizza restaurant and bar, along with Nacho Problems, a nacho bar, closed March 31 after owners announced the closure March 27 on social media. Both restaurants opened in March 2024 by business partners Jabriel Donohue and Daniel Pagard, who also own Admiralty Lounge in Bellingham and two restaurants in Seattle.
“Unfortunately, we’re no longer able to sustain operations,” the post signed by The Bella Ciao Team states. “Apart from the standard aspects of restaurant operations, which are significant, 2024 was the most challenging year for independent operators that we’ve seen in our entire careers, and we hope for the sake of Bellingham’s restaurant community that many of the shared challenges will be taken seriously by those who want to keep a vibrant independent community in Bellingham.”
Bella Ciao was at 1427 Railroad Ave., and Nacho Problems was next door at 1425 Railroad Ave.
Wild Oat Cafe and Bakery
Wild Oat Cafe and Bakery closed March 19 after operating in downtown Bellingham for seven years at 1305 Cornwall Ave.
The restaurant and equipment was listed for sale for $200,000 in 2023, but the asking price slowly decreased. In January, the listing price was only $99,000 for the restaurant and all equipment.
“You can still get the same pastries by special order through our cottage licensed business, The Good Earth Bakery,” a Facebook post on the cafe’s profile page stated.
Bayou on Bay
Downtown Bellingham Cajun restaurant Bayou on Bay closed March 4. The restaurant had been operating for nearly 18 years.
The restaurant did close, but reopened later in 2025 with new owners at its same location, 1300 Bay St. in Bellingham.
Evolve Chocolate + Cafe
Evolve Chocolate + Cafe, a coffee shop and cafe located on the third floor of Village Books, closed permanently April 30.
“We want to take a moment to thank our staff and the owners of Village Books for the last seven years. They have shared in some of our highest highs and some of our lowest lows,” a social media post stated.
The cafe’s owners, Christy and Shannon Fox, launched the business in 2011 and moved into Village Books in 2018. Christy and Shannon now plan to move to Sebastopol, California to be closer to family. Evolve was located at 1200 11th St., Suite 201 in Bellingham.
GOAT Sandwiches
GOAT Sandwiches, a sandwich shop in Blaine, closed permanently April 19. The restaurant was at 4580 Legion Dr. in Blaine.
Great Northern Bottle Shop & Lounge
Garden Path Fermentation, a beer, wine, cider, and mead brewery in Skagit County, permanently closed The Great Northern Bottle Shop & Lounge in Bellingham on May 3. The popular taproom and lounge was located at 1319 Commercial St., next door to Brandywine Kitchen. Although Garden Path Fermentation closed its Bellingham location, its Burlington tasting room has extended hours and is expected to remain open. The brewery’s products are also available for purchase online.
Avellino Bakery
Avellino Gluten Free Bakery, known for its gluten-free pies, pastries, breads, cream puffs, cookies and more, closed permanently June 14. The closure did not include the bakery’s sister business, Avellino Coffee House at 1329 Railroad Ave. in downtown Bellingham. Avellino Gluten Free Bakery was located at 2500 Cornwall Ave. in Bellingham.
Ramble Tamble
Ramble Tamble, a downtown 21-and-older bar known for cocktails, live music and grilled cheese, closed permanently on June 28. The bar was located at 1313 N State St. in Bellingham.
China Palace
China Palace, a Chinese restaurant near Walmart, permanently closed July 6. The restaurant’s owner has decided to retire after being in business for more than 40 years, the owner told The Herald.
China Palace was located at 4444 Meridian St. in Bellingham.
Sugar & Co.
Husband-and-wife duo Brie and Evan Mueller closed their new Sugar & Co. restaurant in Fairhaven on July 25. Sugar and Co. opened in October at the site of the former Milano’s Italian Restaurant, which closed last September.
Sugar & Co. was located in Fairhaven at 1210 11th St.
Ponderosa Beer and Books
Ponderosa Beer and Books, a taproom, bottle shop and bookshop, permanently closed Aug. 28. The Bellingham shop announced the closure on social media. The business was located at 1225 Roeder Ave. near downtown Bellingham.
Barb’s Pies and Pastries
Popular downtown Ferndale bakery Barb’s Pies and Pastries permanently closed Sept. 6.
Owner Barb O’Brine announced her plan to retire and the bakery’s closure on an Aug. 25 social media post from the business. The family-owned bakery was known for homemade doughnuts, pies and pastries. Barb’s Pies and Pastries was located at 2054 Main St. in Ferndale.
Boundary Bay Brewery
Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro, one of Bellingham’s most popular breweries and restaurants, closed permanently Sept. 30, after 30 years of business.
Some of the brewery’s most popular brews will still be available, as certain beer recipes will be passed to Black Raven Brewery in Woodinville to continue brewing. The business was located at 1107 Railroad Ave. in downtown Bellingham.
Carnal
Carnal, the downtown Bellingham restaurant known for its live-fire cooking, steaks, sourdough pizza nights and pasta, closed permanently Nov. 1.
Co-owner Skip Williamson announced the restaurant was listed for sale in August in order to pursue a line of meat stick snacks. Carnal was located at 1234 N State St. in downtown Bellingham.
Flatstick Pub
Flatstick Pub, A Bellingham indoor mini golf venue, restaurant and taproom, closed permanently Dec. 20.
“We’re so grateful for all the memories, laughs, and good times shared here over the years. From epic putt-offs and trivia nights to countless beers with friends — this community has been something special, and we can’t thank you enough for being part of it,” a Nov. 3 Instagram post announcing the closure stated.
Flatstick Pub was located at 902 N State St. in downtown Bellingham.
Wissota Chophouse
Wissota Chophouse, a steakhouse chain with locations across the country, closed its Lynden restaurant on Dec. 27. The closure came after the restaurant celebrated its one-year anniversary in November. No other Wissota Chophouse locations have announced closures. Wissota Chophouse was at 8155 Guide Meridian in Lynden.
Pita Pit
Pita Pit, a chain restaurant with a location in downtown Bellingham, has officially closed, according to the restaurant’s website.
The Bellingham restaurant’s closure was first hinted at in January 2024 in a Facebook post looking for potential buyers.
“After rolling pitas for 13 years, I’m hanging up my apron and looking to sell. We have a location in prime downtown area in Bellingham, Washington. If you’re looking to buy, shoot me a message, and we can chat,” the post states.
As of Dec. 31, the Bellingham location is no longer listed on the chain’s website. Pita Pit was located at 201 East Holly St. in downtown Bellingham.
This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 10:20 AM.
