Whatcom businessman boosting restaurants with these events; plus music, theater updates
As residents try to figure out how to help save local restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic, one business owner has tapped into something that is giving a big boost to eateries in Lynden and Laurel.
Dan Thompson is frustrated seeing restaurants being among the hardest hit during this year-long pandemic. The closures and restrictions have taken a toll on his favorite local places, so Thompson, who owns Z Recyclers in Laurel, starting thinking about how to help.
His first step was organizing a GoFundMe account for the Fairway Cafe in December after it was ordered by the state to stop violating orders about indoor dining restrictions. His motivation was to make sure that a local restaurant he’s enjoyed over the years would survive after the pandemic.
The support came pouring in. Having not done a GoFundMe fundraiser before, he was surprised at how successful it was, raising more than $30,000.
After that event, Thompson wondered if doing something more than just raising money would work, so he started organizing takeout events for other restaurants. Thompson offered to match each sale during these events with his own money. Other businesses have jumped to help match the sales dollars, including Brim Tractor, Hinton Chevrolet, Elements Hospitality and Northwest Propane. The Lynden Chamber of Commerce has also been influential in drumming up support, spreading information about upcoming events through social media.
Another Thompson favorite is Our Diner in Laurel, a breakfast/lunch eatery that was struggling with just doing takeout because breakfast places have such a strong tradition of being a gathering place.
In mid-January they had a takeout/matching sales event and Our Diner co-owner Babe Perez was floored by the response.
“We thought we were prepared, but I was not,” said Perez in a phone interview, adding with a laugh that she had never worked so hard in a six-hour stretch in the past 50 years. “It was so generous. This has been rough, but with his (Thompson’s) help, we’re getting through this.”
Perez added that now that the county is in Phase 2 with 25% indoor capacity allowed, they have expanded operations from four days a week to six days a week. Our Diner is now open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
Thompson has organized similar events at other Lynden area restaurants in recent weeks, including the Syros Greek & Italian restaurant and Rustlers Front Street Grill, which have also been successful despite the recent snowy weather. On Saturday, Feb. 20, Marta’s Cocina will receive the matching sales offer.
As these events continue to grow, it’s made Thompson realize that when the opportunity is out there, people do want to help. Creating these opportunities is important, he said, because everyone is so busy with their lives and dealing with the pandemic to organize something like this.
“I’ve been fortunate that my business has done well throughout this pandemic, so my heart goes out to those businesses that haven’t done so well,” said Thompson, who has owned Z Recyclers for 30 years and has worked there for 37 years.
Even though restaurants are now in Phase 2 and can offer some limited indoor seating, Thompson said restaurants are not out of the woods yet so he’ll continue organizing these events. For those interested in helping Thompson, or even getting advice on starting something similar in other communities, email him at dan@zrecyclers.com.
In other retail activity around Whatcom County:
▪ For those wondering about seeing a movie in a theater, it is still a wait-and-see mode during the COVID-19 pandemic in Whatcom County.
On its website, Regal Cinemas said it is waiting for improving conditions in key markets before reopening. One key factor is movie studios, which have been pushing release dates on movies until later this year. The latest James Bond film “No Time to Die,” for example, has had its release date pushed from April to Oct. 8.
Regal, which operates the theater in the Barkley district, temporarily closed its theaters on Oct. 2.
The Pickford Film Center is waiting for local infection numbers to improve before it considers reopening, said Executive Director Susie Purves. The Pickford, which has its theater at 1318 Bay St., is offering a virtual screening room for online movie experiences.
▪ Downtown Bellingham music venue Wild Buffalo sent out an update for its customers, saying that it plans to continue to remain closed for now.
“We all want to enjoy live music again. We all want to see all your lovely faces on the dance floor. But it’s our opinion that we NEED to wait to open up until we can clearly determine that it’s safe to do so,” co-owner Craig Jewell said in the update, which was also posted on social media.
