Here’s an update on when Cheba Hut will open in Bellingham
Here’s a roundup of recent retail activity around Whatcom County:
▪ Cheba Hut is a few weeks from opening, with a grand opening slated for around mid-June.
The sandwich shop, which is going in at 306 W. Holly St. near the Old Town Cafe, will also have a full bar. The theme of the restaurant is a playful nod to the cannabis culture, with sandwich names like Jamaican Red and Acapulco Gold. And no, none of the food is infused with cannabis.
“We are hopeful that the community will enjoy our interior design choices which feature custom murals and graphics, a high-quality sound system and our experienced staff who are dedicated to serving CHeBA HUT’s high quality fast casual food selections,” said franchise owner Doug Engerman in an email.
The sandwich shop is going into the Canfield building, which is going through an extensive remodel that will include bring back murals to the side of the building and rocket ship in the parking lot. Engerman said that he loves the results of the remodel, although it’s taken longer than originally expected.
▪ A Bellingham building permit application was submitted to build a new car dealership at 105 W. Van Wyck Road, north of Walmart. The dealership is for Mammut Auto Sales, which has a lot nearby on Meridian Street. The application calls for a dealership for 30-50 cars, an office and a repair shop.
▪ A Bellingham building permit application was also submitted by PetStop to expand its pet store at the Sehome Shopping Center.
▪ Kebab Casual Owner Karl Shilhanek announced on Facebook that he has decided not to pursue a new location for the food truck, which recently shut down.
Shilhanek said he was considering reopening the truck Bellingham’s Waterfront District, but decided against it. His other business, Carve Casual, remains open every day at the Kulshan Brewery K2 property on Kentucky Street.
“There’s a lot to be bummed about, and I’ll miss my daily Chicken Shawarma wrap with Garlic Aioli and Feta. That being said, this is a big weight off my shoulders, and I’m grateful for the ability to step away,” Shilhanek said in the Facebook post.
▪ A company that handles electronic recycling and data destruction is opening a retail store to sell refurbished computers.
The grand opening for the store is scheduled for Wednesday, June 1, according to a Facebook post. The store will be at 809 W. Orchard Drive, Suite 6, near Northwest Labs and West Marine. Details about the company can be found on its website.
▪ Some big changes are happening in Bellingham later this summer when it comes to restaurant to-go rules, and businesses are invited to learn more about it.
Sustainable Connections is having an in-person event 3-4 p.m. on Monday May 23 about navigating the single-use plastics ban. The ordinance, which was passed by the Bellingham City Council in 2021, begins July 31.
The event, which will be at the Barkley Jalapenos restaurant, is designed to support Spanish-speaking restaurant owners, but is open for anyone in the food service industries to attend, according to a news release. Sustainable Connections will have compostable containers available to sample, provide resources for purchasing containers, and share strategies on how to eliminate single-use plastics.
Restaurant industry professionals who would like to attend or learn more about Bellingham’s upcoming single-use plastics ban are encouraged to contact Jenna Deane at Jennad@sustainableconnections.org. Additional support for lodging businesses will also be available in the near future.
This story was originally published May 22, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
