A store in a shipping container? The idea back on the table for Bellingham‘s waterfront
Here’s a roundup of recent retail activity in Whatcom County:
▪ It appears the idea of having a temporary shipping container business village on the waterfront is picking up momentum.
A building permit application was submitted to the city to put in two shipping containers in the undeveloped area near the Granary Building and Waypoint Park. Since a shipping container being used to host a business is a new concept for Bellingham, the permit was submitted in order to better understand what the requirements would be, said Mike Hogan, spokesman for the port.
Hogan said they are hoping that the shipping containers will be a cost-effective way to bring more activity to the waterfront, to go along with the food trucks and the Wednesday Farmer’s Market.
“Ideally the permit process will be straightforward and we can get the first container open by late spring/early summer along with the restroom and lawn in front of the digester tanks,” Hogan said in an email. “At this point we are still in the due diligence phase, but we are learning more every day.”
The shipping container idea started taking shape at the end of 2019, right before the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Whatcom County.
▪ On Tuesday, Feb. 2, Port of Bellingham commissioners approved a six-year lease for a waterfront building that could be home to a fish market and restaurant.
The lease between the port and Aliotti Enterprises was signed for a building at 1030 C. St., near the Whatcom Waterway. The former marine electronics building will need to go through the permitting process to change the use to a restaurant.
Aliotti Enterprises, operated by Tom Aliotti, has a boat-building business in that Whatcom Waterway area.
▪ The newly completed Fairhaven Towers appears to have a new commercial tenant for its first floor. According to a building permit application, First Federal Savings is planning to put in a branch in the building, which is on the corner of Harris Avenue and 12th Street.
▪ The Beach Store Cafe on Lummi Island announced on its website that it is taking a break and will be closed Feb. 8-25.
▪ It’s getting down to crunch time for Valentine’s Day gift ideas. For those who want to shop locally, Sustainable Connections has created The Sweet Sixteen, a curated list of sweet treats from Whatcom County businesses.
All of the treats on the Sweet Sixteen list are available to be purchased using the Whatcom Think Local First Gift Card. Details on who made the list can be found on the Sustainable Connections website.
▪ Packers Kitchen & Bar at Semiahmoo Resort is introducing a new six-week program for those willing to bundle up in order to try some new dishes outside while following the latest pandemic restrictions. From Feb. 19 through March 27, Packers will participate in the Puffy Jacket Pop-Up Dining Series.
It’s being organized by its parent company Columbia Hospitality and Packers will have a new menu featuring creative versions of seasonal Pacific Northwest fare, according to a news release from the company. Some examples of the Packers menu includes pastry hand pies, shrimp puffs and beignets. Further details about the series can be found on Columbia’s website.
