This is what’s happening in Fairhaven as Whatcom County reopens in Phase 2
This is the first in a series looking at Whatcom County business districts as they reopen in Phase 2 of the new coronavirus Safe Start program.
As Fairhaven reopens, early indications are that it is going to be a gradual return for visitors rather than a mad rush back to the local businesses.
The shopping district was relatively quiet on Monday, June 8. It appeared many of the visitors were window shopping, looking around to see what was open a few days after it was announced many businesses could reopen with limited capacity and many guidelines meant to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. Parking, which is typically difficult to find in June even on a Monday, was not an issue in the afternoon hours.
Fairhaven also had a different feel because the visitors were mostly local residents. At this time of year, tourism usually plays a big role with visitors coming from the Seattle area and Canada. That’s not the case yet, particularly with the U.S.-Canada border closed to non-essential travel.
The business reopenings were subdued, but quite a few were welcoming customers on June 8. Of the 92 stores, restaurants and salons checked that day, 65 were open at some capacity, with another 8 posting signs that they were opening soon. Bellis Fair, which reopened on June 9, had about 25% of its businesses open.
While store traffic was a quiet, salon owners appeared busy, albeit at reduced capacity. Wendy Chesnut, owner of Hair by Wendy, said appointments are booked up for the coming months. Looking out of her Finnegan’s Alley salon, she said she’s grateful to see cars on Harris Avenue. She shares the salon with her daughter Danielle Cook, who operates Wax by Danielle.
“It was such a ghost town,” Chesnut said of Fairhaven during the pandemic. “I’m just so grateful to be back and seeing my clients.”
Several stores reported the opening weekend brought in a steady amount of customers, with some quickly hitting the capacity limits. Fairhaven Runners and Walkers only allows three customers inside the store at a time, so there were instances when people would patiently wait outside for service, said Craig Bartlett, the store’s manager.
“In trying to best make people feel safe, we acknowledge it’s different,” Bartlett said, noting that employees keep their distance and let customers lace up their shoes. “Most people are adapting really well.”
Village Books in Fairhaven put a system in place to have no more than 30 people in the store at a time. Customers who walk up to the front door are given a number to carry with them in the store. The early feedback on the system is very positive, particularly its simplicity, said Paul Hanson, co-owner of the store.
In the early going Village Books hasn’t hit its capacity limit, but Hanson said they expect a steady increase in customers. The bookstore had very strong growth in online sales and curbside pickup during the Phase 1 period of the pandemic, which he said was one key to the business making it through the long first phase. Even with the increase in online purchases, overall sales are down substantially year-over-year.
For some of the businesses that aren’t completely open yet, they are planning ways to make the reopening safe and enjoyable. The Swim Club is working with the city to put in a parklet, or outdoor seating area, in the parking spaces in front of the bar. This will help the business allow for more customers outside when it opens beyond curbside pickup in the next week or so, said Chelsea Simons, operations manager for Swim Club and Gainsbarre, a wine bar that is next door.
Simons said reopening is a challenge and they want to make sure they have it right for customers and employees.
“We’re asking our unemployed workers to come back to an unknown situation,” Simons said.
