A new store in Fairhaven, updates on a Whatcom candy shop and restaurant openings
Here’s a roundup of recent retail activity around Whatcom County:
▪ A new retail store has opened in Fairhaven. It’s called Bella Rose Bath and Beauty Boutique and it is at 1134 10th St., near the South Bay Trail and OVN Pizza.
According to its website, the store offers a variety of products like soaps, candles and slippers. It is operated by Kimberly Hoctor, who also runs Posh Upscale Resale in Fairhaven.
▪ The C Shop in Birch Bay is nearly ready to reopen for its 50th summer this month.
According to its website, they are doing some finishing touches before announcing an official opening day, sometime in May. Once open, longtime customers will notice some changes, including the candy shop moving to the east side of the building. Going into the former candy retail space is the chocolate working room.
The shop will also have a variety of rules in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, including face coverings and no inside seating. There will be some outdoor seating. The C Shop is also not planning to make pizza, sandwiches or espresso drinks this year.
The C Shop is at 4825 Alderson Road.
▪ SconeGrown, the new bakery going into the Granary Building on the waterfront, has announced it will open at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 8.
It will have a 100% vegan menu with both sweet and savory scone options. Examples of what else is on the menu include a baby lemon loaf, a gluten-free cheesecake, sesame buns with whipped tahini butter and gluten-free crispy tofu bites.
For further details, visit the company’s website.
▪ For those who have a hankering for Seattle’s Top Pot doughnuts, the Makeworth Market is planning to host a pop-up store on Saturday, May 22.
Makeworth, which sells a variety of retail products as well as coffee and food, is at 1201 N. State St., near the Herald Building.
▪ Wake N Bakery in Glacier announced on Facebook that it is taking a break during the shoulder season in the foothills, closing Wednesday, May 5, and reopening Friday, June 4.
▪ A building permit application was submitted to put in a Dollar Tree Store at 1821 Cornwall Ave., in the Habitat for Humanity shopping center near Bellingham High School.
▪ Also submitting a building permit application was MW Soapworks to go into 1310 Commercial St. near the Commercial Street Parking Garage.
▪ A state liquor license application was submitted for a small grocery store at 3189 E. Badger Road, north of Nooksack. The proposed name is Abarrotes Guatemalteca, and the applicants are Maria and Valeriano Mendoza.
▪ Remodeling appears to be moving along for the new Zeek’s Pizza that is going in at Bellingham’s Fountain District, with pizza ovens and new signs recently installed. According to the company’s Facebook page, the restaurant is targeting Memorial Day weekend to open.
▪ The Fairhaven Village Inn has reached a new management and operating agreement with Columbia Hospitality Inc.
Columbia manages a wide range of hotels, boutiques and resorts that it manages in the Pacific Northwest, including Blaine’s Semiahmoo Resort.
“We’re thrilled to have Columbia Hospitality leading our management and operations,” said co-owner Gene Shannon in a news release. “Their exceptional portfolio of boutique hotels across multiple states has demonstrated their commitment to preserving the individuality of each property, while still creating an amazing experience for guests through thoughtful amenities and unique programming.”
The inn, which opened in 1999 at 1200 10th St., has 22 rooms and a 24-hour library lounge with coffee and tea service.
▪ The Downtown Bellingham Partnership is expanding its Art Walk program and will be called First Fridays.
The expanded event will provide all downtown businesses an opportunity to participate, regardless of whether they’re hosting a featured artist or not.
“First Fridays will provide a holistic opportunity for the community to engage with the city center, at a safe distance, while supporting independent businesses, our artist community, and cultural resources,” Lindsey Payne Johnstone, program director for the Downtown Bellingham Partnership, said in a news release.
Each month will feature pop-up activities like the Rebel Artist of Whatcom markets in the Commercial Street Plaza, food and drink specials, art installations, live projections and a seasonal busking program.
The First Friday on May 7 will feature some live music as well. Details can be found on the Downtown Bellingham Partnership’s website.
This story was originally published May 2, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
