Whatcom Roundup: Bellis Fair adding new shops; luxury salon opens; downtown museum closing

Here’s your weekly roundup of the latest retail, business and restaurant activity in and around Whatcom County:

New stores coming to Bellis Fair mall

The Bellis Fair mall is adding three new businesses soon, according to an email from the mall’s general manager, David Prince.

Cultured Harvests, a restaurant in food court space 515, will serve soups, salads and sandwiches. Roman Artisan Bakery , a bakery currently operating out of a mall kiosk serving desserts, will open in food court space 516. The Cusp Apothecary , a home goods store, will open in space 113. No opening dates for the new businesses have been announced.

Bellis Fair Mall is at 1 Bellis Fair Parkway in Bellingham.

New salon opens in Bellingham

Ardor Salon , a luxury hair salon in Fairhaven, has opened its doors, according to an Instagram post on Wednesday, July 17. The new salon offers cuts, coloring, styling and extension services. Appointments can be made online, and the salon is at 1125 Finnegan Way #102 in Bellingham.

Chuckanut Bay Distillery opening rooftop bar

Chuckanut Bay Distillery , a distillery, restaurant and bar in downtown Bellingham is opening a new roof top bar at its location, according to an email from the owner, Ethan Lynette.

No opening date has been announced, but the popular restaurant shared a photo of the new rooftop on its Facebook page:

Mindport Exhibits museum closing

Mindport Exhibits , an interactive museum in downtown Bellingham, has announced it will be closing its doors this fall.

“The interactive museum has been a destination for locals and tourists alike, offering a unique space for exploration and learning at the intersection of art and science. One-of-a-kind, interactive exhibits, hand-built by staff, have provided numerous opportunities for discovery and education to visitors from Whatcom County and around the world,” a news release from the museum states.

The museum has been open for almost three decades, but the closure “stems from several factors,” such as retirement of its founding director in 2019 and a lack of funding.

No official closing date has been announced, and the museum plans to continue normal operations through the fall.

The museum is open from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at 210 West Holly St. in Bellingham.

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/# .

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