This downtown favorite is closed for updates as a Fairhaven cafe plans expansion
Here’s a roundup of recent retail activity around Whatcom County:
▪ Operating two early morning cafes and one late-night bar is a challenging endeavor even under ideal circumstances, but during a pandemic, a Bellingham business owner is quickly adapting to stay in business.
That’s what Vince Lalonde has been doing with the Mount Bakery cafes and the Temple Bar in Bellingham. In an interview, Lalonde gave an update on what is happening with the businesses:
The Temple Bar: Lalonde has decided to pause operations and make some structural and organizational changes so the bar is viable going forward. The pandemic — and particularly the current omicron surge — dealt a big blow to the business during what is usually a busy holiday season, forcing Lalonde to work on a new business strategy. Being right next to the downtown Mount Bakery cafe but separate had some disadvantages that he wants to change.
Plans are still being finalized, but Lalonde said the end game is to have a combined space but with two uses: The Temple Bar can have the seating of both spaces and use of the kitchen in the evenings, while the Mount Bakery can use it during the daytime hours..
The Temple Bar and the downtown Mount Bakery were already moving in that direction before Temple’s temporary closure, including a shared outdoor deck for seating and a roll-down door to connect the two spaces.
“The main message that I would want the public to know is that the Temple Bar is definitely not closing,” Lalonde said, adding that he’s excited about the way the art district is growing around the bar and wants to be a part of that. “The Temple Bar is going to come back bigger and better than ever. There’s always some concern when you have a favorite place that it will change too much and we will try our best to hold on to what has made the Temple so special.”
Fairhaven Mount Bakery: Changes are happening at the Fairhaven cafe as well, but more in the form of growth.
Currently under construction is a new outdoor deck that should add around 10 tables when it is completed sometime this spring. Timberguide Construction is handling the project and it is more of a permanent structure than the downtown outdoor seating area.
The Fairhaven cafe is also expected to expand into the former Fairhaven Laundry space next door. Lalonde is hoping to have that project started later this year, which would be used to create a larger production space. That’s a project that was scheduled to get going in 2020, but was delayed as the pandemic took hold.
Details and updates can be found on the Mount Bakery and Temple Bar social media pages.
▪ Auntie Pam’s Country Store in Point Roberts will soon be under new ownership and will be renamed Kora’s Corner at the end of February, according to a social media post from current owner Pam Sheppard. The store, which is at 1480 Gulf Road, sells a variety of items including soap and jewelry.
▪ The Atwood Farm Brewery in Blaine has released a new beer and 90% of the gross sales will be donated to the Whatcom Community Foundation Resilience Fund for flood relief.
The beer is called Flood Siren, and is described as a Belgian-style stout brewed with raspberries. The 16-ounce cans are available at the brewery as well as other local businesses, including both Community Food Co-op stores, Elizabeth Station and The Green Barn.
▪ Kulshan Brewing is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a series of anniversary beer releases. The first of the three in the series is called James Street IPA and is now available in cans.
▪ A sign permit application was submitted to the city for a new bubble tea business going into the Bellis Fair mall food court. It’s called Bellis Boba Company.
This story was originally published January 23, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
CORRECTION: Timberguide Construction is working on the Fairhaven Mount Bakery. The name of the firm was corrected on Jan. 26, 2022.
