Bellingham restaurant listed for sale as owner hopes the business will continue in new hands

Bellingham coffee shop, cafe and restaurant Banter has been listed for sale, and its owner is searching for a buyer willing to keep the popular business going.

“Banter is not closing,” owner Emile Diffley said in an email to The Bellingham Herald. “I am looking for the next owner to take over the current operations. ... The sale is a true turnkey sale.”

The listing’s $435,000 asking price includes all kitchen equipment, furniture, fixtures, front-of-house equipment, a walk-in cooler, a newly built patio, a liquor license and “all the components, systems, and characteristics in place to set up the next owner(s) for success,” according to the listing on BizBuySell.com.

The listing also includes a six-month training and support from Diffley, who plans to invest more time into the business before leaving it.

“I am still very focused on operating Banter to the highest level possible, and until there is a change in ownership, I am not putting too much energy into future decisions. There is still a lot I want to accomplish with Banter before my exit,” Diffley said.

Diffley decided to list Banter for sale with plans to live in Bellingham only part-time.

“Personally, I have plans to live six months of the year in a warmer climate, most likely California, possibly elsewhere, and remain the other half of the year in Bellingham; running a small cafe, unfortunately, is not conducive to this lifestyle. Professionally, I am excited to look into new areas of growth by taking what I have learned with Banter and applying it to a new project or position within hospitality outside of Bellingham,” Diffley said.

“I’m hoping to have a sale finalized by the end of the year, and to begin the process of transitioning out (transferring licenses and training a new owner) over the first six months of 2025,” Diffley said.

Until Banter is purchased, the restaurant will continue to operate as usual.

“Customers should expect the exact same Banter as always,” Diffley said. “Our hours will go unchanged, as will our offerings. There are some space improvement projects that I am working on finishing up, and we will be making a couple of seasonal menu changes over the next six months, but my goal to always be improving the business will be unaffected, if anything I am more motivated to get the operation set up in a way that lends to the next owner the most promising track to continued success.”

Banter is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at 114 Prospect St. in Bellingham.