Whatcom Roundup: Chick-fil-A update; new downtown restaurant; Pickford expansion
Here’s your weekly roundup of the latest retail and restaurant activity around Whatcom County:
Bayou on Bay reopens
Bayou on Bay, a Cajun, Southern and Creole restaurant that opened in 2007, has officially reopened after it closed back in March.
After the sudden closure, a family purchased the business in April with a promise to reopen it. The restaurant reopened July 5, according to a social media post.
The restaurant is open 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 1300 Bay St. in downtown Bellingham.
Pickford Film Center opening expansion
Pickford Film Center in downtown Bellingham is opening its new expansion on Aug. 1. It is called The Pickford On Grand.
“After raising funds through the passionate support of our community, Pickford Film Center is thrilled to announce the opening of our new three-screen expansion, the Grand, on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. This milestone will bring the greater Bellingham community a total of five vibrant independent screens and marks a new chapter in our commitment to providing the best possible movie-going experience,” a news release from the film center states.
The grand opening event is open to the public and starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1 at 105 Grand Ave. in downtown Bellingham.
New club nears opening
A new nightclub created for ages 18-24 is making progress toward opening, according to recent reporting by The Herald.
The new club — called “-HUT-” — is in the final stage of construction below the dance floor at Rumors Cabaret.
On Friday nights the venue will be open as the nightclub portion of the business, serving canned non-alcoholic beverages. The age limit of 24 is intended to create a safe environment for young people.
No opening date has been announced. The new club will be at 1115 Railroad Ave. in Bellingham.
Chick-Fil-A update
Bellingham’s Chick-fil-A is making progress, according to the city of Bellingham.
“We heard from the property owner that they are finally closing on the Chick Fil A deal on July 31,” Director of Planning and Community Development Blake Lyon told The Herald. “We understand that the purchase and sale agreement was contingent on Chick Fil A obtaining all necessary construction permits.”
“From the city’s perspective the permits are in ‘Ready To Issue’ status right now, so we would expect them to be picked up and paid for some time this month. Then it will be up to them and their contractor to determine when they would like to start construction,” Lyon said.
The new restaurant is planned for 4030 Cordata Parkway.
Bellingham events, trivia nights and live music
Bellingham is full of local events, markets, festivals and other events during the month of July. Here’s your guide to this month’s events, trivia, live music and more. For an extensive list of local events, visit our new Events page at www.bellinghamherald.com/events/#.
Discover Whatcom
If you’re looking for some fun things to do in Whatcom County, new restaurants to visit, or stories on what makes our area unique, subscribe to our free weekly “Discover Whatcom” newsletter.
This story was originally published July 18, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
