Bellingham’s The Stamp & Coin Place to focus on online sales

The Stamp & Coin Place is closing its brick-and-mortar location to focus on online sales.

Owner Tim Rathjen announced that the final day of business in the downtown space at 101 E. Holly St. is Thursday, Jan. 14, when it will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The business will be moving into a warehouse to handle online sales.

The store has been a staple in the downtown district, having been in the area for more than 40 years according to Rathjen, who bought the business in 2003. He said sales have been shifting more to online in recent years and reached a point that it makes more sense to have a place with better inventory storage and work flow.

“At the new warehouse, The Stamp & Coin Place will continue to offer many of the services it currently provides to local clients, but on a by-appointment-only basis,” Rathjen said.

The Stamp & Coin Place is currently in the former Bellingham National Bank Building, which will be ready to lease at the beginning of February, said Steve Huizenga, a property services broker at Pacific Continental Realty. About 6,500 square feet is available but can be broken into smaller spaces for lease. The space is known for its unique look, he said, as well as the iconic clock outside the building that was recently repaired.

Rathjen said the move into the bank space in 2011 was an opportunity too good to miss. Since the store dealt with bullion, coins and currency, he was able to make use of the building’s bank vault, teller station and security deposit boxes.

The company recently made another move by acquiring The Stamp & Coin Place in Mount Vernon. That store, which is at 405 S. 1st. St., will remain open as they evaluate the local demand in that market.

The Stamp & Coin Place will continue to host the annual Bellingham Stamp and Coin Show. The next show is April 2-3 in Fox Hall at the Hampton Inn.

Along with stamps and coins, the company also handles collectibles. After the storefront closing on Jan. 14, the best way to reach Stamp & Coin for an appointment is by calling 360-676-8720. For more information about the company, visit stampandcoinplace.com.

For details on the space, visit pacificcontinentalrealty.com.

This story was originally published January 13, 2016 at 8:30 AM with the headline "Bellingham’s The Stamp & Coin Place to focus on online sales."