New grocery store opens; popular Bellingham coffee spot moving into bigger space
Here’s an update on recent retail activity around Whatcom County:
▪ The Nugents Corner Market & Hardware near Deming is now open for business.
Local residents Troy and Aubree Lozano of Everson purchased the former Dodson’s IGA grocery store at 3705 Mt. Baker Highway and have spent recent months refurbishing the building. Nugents Corner Market & Hardware is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
The 20,000-square-foot store has a wide range of products and services, including an in-house butcher, prepared meals, produce, bread and pet food. The hardware portion of the store includes a lawn and garden section, tools and sporting goods.
For more information, or to apply for employment opportunities, visit nugentscorner.com.
▪ Tuesday Morning has “store closing” signs up at its Sunset Square location in Bellingham.
The company’s website confirms that it is among four of its stores closing in Washington state. The other three slated to close are in Smokey Point, Silverdale and Kennewick.
The national retailer, which sells a variety of home decor products and furniture, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization on Wednesday, May 27.
▪ The Black Drop Coffeehouse is moving into a new location that will not only help its business during the pandemic, but expand its offerings.
Stephanie and John Oppelaar announced on Facebook that they plan to move to the former Rook and Rogue space at 206 W. Magnolia St., near their current spot on Champion Street.
In a phone interview, John Oppelaar said in they are planning to be in the new spot in mid-September. The new, bigger space will allow for outdoor seating. Once Whatcom County is in Phase 3, they plan on having indoor seating.
They also plan on filing for a state beer/wine license and use the full kitchen for small plate meals. This will allow them to expand their hours and be open in the evening as well. They are remaining a cafe rather than a restaurant, so the plan is to offer to create a commissary kitchen to help other businesses prepare meals.
John Oppelaar said news about the move has been met with overwhelming support. The current spot hit capacity around three years ago, and being on the corner made it difficult during this pandemic to have any outdoor seating.
Once in the new space, the cafe will have seven employees and be open on weekends. Updates on the move will be available on the company’s Facebook page.
▪ The Lynden Tribune reports that the Wells Fargo branch at 1780 Front St. will close on Sept. 30. Once it closes, Wells Fargo will three branches in Whatcom County — two in Bellingham and one in Ferndale.
