Restaurant closure leaves Bellingham with one less Mexican dining option
Bellingham has lost a woman-owned Mexican restaurant that has been in business for 10 years. The New Mexico Tamale Company first opened in 2016 in Ferndale, started by Dora Ruiz.
“What started in 2016 in Ferndale became so much more than a restaurant — it became community, connection, and family. We watched families grow, welcomed strangers who became regulars, and built friendships we will carry forever,” Ruiz wrote in an April 1 social media post announcing the closure.
Ruiz called the COVID-19 pandemic the restaurant’s “toughest chapter,” but credited customers for keeping the business afloat through it.
“Over time, rising costs and declining revenue made it impossible to continue. When I realized there was no longer enough to sustain the business and support local the way I always intended, I knew we were in trouble. Everything I did here was with purpose — to give back and pay it forward,” Ruiz said in the post.
Ruiz announced the sudden permanent closure in the April 1 Facebook post, with no prior announcement about closing.
“After years of long days and stress, it is time for me to focus on my health. What I feel most is gratitude. ... From the bottom of my heart — thank you for being part of this journey,” Ruiz wrote.
“If I can leave one message: please continue to support your local businesses. Many are closer to closing than they appear, and they are the ones who give back to this community every day,” Ruiz wrote in the post.
The restaurant was located at 4151 Meridian St., in the Cordata Place shopping center near Burlington Coat Factory and Larrabee Lager Company.
