MOD Pizza's planned Bellingham Location faces Uncertainty as Permit Deadlines Loom

Mod Pizza PlansPhoto byCity of Bellingham

BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON - It has been a couple of years since MOD Pizza was approved to open a location at Sehome Village in Bellingham's Samish Way Urban district, but there has been little progress, and the permits for the project are now nearing expiration.

The initial permit for an illuminated wall sign at the Sehome Village location was issued on September 1, 2022, and is set to expire on August 31, 2024. Additionally, a building permit for tenant improvements to create the new MOD Pizza restaurant was issued on December 13, 2022, with an expiration date of December 12, 2024. Despite these approvals, no significant updates or developments have been reported, and time is running out for the project to be completed.

In April, Bellingham Metro News published an article titled "Is MOD Pizza Still Coming to Sehome Village and Lynden?" In the article, the publication reached out to the City of Bellingham’s Planning and Community Development Department for an update. The city confirmed that while a building permit had been issued for the Sehome Village location, no inspections had been scheduled, and there had been no further communication from MOD Pizza regarding the restaurant's progress. The permit remains active but will expire at the end of 2024 if no action is taken.

The City of Lynden also provided an update at the time, indicating that the exterior shell of the building intended for the MOD Pizza location was expected to be completed by the end of the week. However, they had not yet received the Tenant Improvement permit necessary for the interior build-out. MOD Pizza’s agent confirmed that initial impact fees had been paid.

Bellingham Metro News reached out to MOD Pizza for comment, but no response has been received.

What could be next for this prime commercial and retail location? Personally, I hope it’s a Wingstop or Taco Del Mar.