CHS Northwest informs state of additional layoffs, this time in Bellingham
CHS Northwest, a chain of farm and garden stores, recently informed the state of Washington that it will sell multiple stores across the state, including one in Bellingham. The announcement comes less than a month after the chain announced the closure of the Lynden True Value hardware store, which led to 11 layoffs.
On Feb. 19, CHS Northwest filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) to the Washington State Employment Security Department announcing the sale of four additional Washington stores, including the Bellingham Farm & Home store at 3500 Meridian St. Layoffs for the Bellingham store will take effect April 19.
Although the Bellingham store will be sold, CHS is hoping the stores can remain open under new ownership.
“It has not been the intention of CHS to close the locations, but rather to find an owner who is more directly focused on continuing and enhancing the retail experience,” Eric Ellis, senior director of operations at CHS Northwest, stated in an email to The Bellingham Herald. “CHS will continue to operate in the area, with a focus on providing customers and owners with energy and agronomy solutions.”
The store offers lawn and garden supplies, hardware, pet and wild bird supplies, propane filling and more.
Stores in Black Diamond, Chimacum and Poulsbo are also planned to be sold, and a total of 38 employees will be laid off across the four stores. The company did not announce how many layoffs would be required at each store.
“We have already provided all affected employees with written notices about the sale of these above-referenced stores,” the notification document states.
Bellingham Farm & Home is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at 3500 Meridian St., near West Marine and Cornwall Park.
