News
Bellingham Gets New Businesses Before Holiday Shopping Season Begins
NOV 9, 2010 - BELLINGHAM - There's an expectation that shopping activity increases this time of year, but this year in Whatcom County there's also an uptick in retailers either opening or expanding.
By David Gallagher, Bellingham Herald
November 9, 2010
There's an expectation that shopping activity increases this time of year, but this year in Whatcom County there's also an uptick in retailers either opening or expanding.
New businesses entering Whatcom County used to be a common trend right before the holiday shopping season, but for the past two years that hasn't happened. In 2008 the nation was trying to digest the financial meltdown, so there were few business startups. Last year, with the economy still in a downturn and very little commercial lending taking place, openings were sparse.
This year's been different, at least in Bellingham. Businesses in several retail areas opened in recent weeks, including Bellis Fair (Brookstone, Toys R Us and Yankee Candle among them), Whatcom Plaza (Avellino Coffee and Power Blendz), Bakerview Square (Bratz in Vogue, Urban Boutique and Urban Sol) and downtown (Pure Bliss Desserts and Bistro on Magnolia Street). Diva Boutique Bellingham.
Also successfully moving into a new space is HobbyTown USA. It's now at Bakerview Square, having moved over from the retail center near Meridian Cost Cutter last week. It'll be celebrating its five-year anniversary on Friday, Nov. 12.
Read this entire article online at the BellinghamHerald.com.
