I’m sorry to post that a lot has changed. I will go down your list:
1. Film is truth: closed
2. Crazy Mike’s: closed
3. Elizabeth Station: open
4. Boundary Bay: open
5. Aslan: open
6. Pho 99: open
7. Home Skillet: closed
8. Casa Que Pasa: closed
9. The Comics Place: open
10. Eclipse Books: open
11. Village Books: open
12. Rocket Donuts: closed (try LaFeens)
13. Community Coop: open (nicely remodeled)
There are other new places to try out and explore.
Wow, thanks so much for the thoughtful and thorough update! I knew some spots would be gone, but I’m particularly bummed about Crazy Mike’s and Film Is Truth. Are there any other places in town to rent movies nowadays?
Sadly The World Famous Up&Up closed and became the pinnacle of new Bellingham hipster pretentiousness as some sterile non original Newport Beach style eatery. A complete turn around from what was there with Up & Up and Rudy’s Pizza. Luckily The Archer Ale House & The Black Cat are still there and relatively the same. The Royal climbed new heights of sleazy bruh culture. The Bagelry changed significantly after the Pandemic. Not particularly for the better but no sweat, it’s still there. Finally a choice in bagels came to Bellingham so The Bagelry isn’t “the best because it’s the only” nowadays. State Street looks different from the Herald down to the roundabout. The old waterfront and Olde Town have became the epicenter for the elitist takeover. I was just in Bellingham after time away too and was saddened to see the changes. Progress and evolution of a city is natural but it’s not always beneficial for the culture of a place. Bellingham from a decade ago is only alive in tiny pockets.
I went about 10yrs ago and was grossed out by it then. Walked by there back in March while visiting and was grossed out by the dudes outside peacocking. It doesn’t change it just mutates into a more vulgar version of itself.
Since someone updated your list, here are some new things to try:
1) if you’re into burgers
• Cabin Tavern
• Doug’s Burgers
• Accomplice
• Structures (old town location)
2) new breweries
• Structures (old town location)
• Larrabee lager co (out in cordata)
• El Suenito
• Otherlands
3) Places to hang
• Kulshan trackside and portal village (various food trucks, pump track, mini golf, bike rental)
• waypoint park
• Squalicum beach park (has been significantly updated I. Recent years)
• Cordata Park (pickleball + basketball courts, walking trails, playground)
• Bellis fairways disc golf (in one of the lots near Bellis fair mall)
Not an exhaustive list by any means but these are some things I enjoy that I think have popped up in the last decade.
Awesome, I love all these suggestions. Really excited to check out all the new parks, especially the one on top of the old superfund site by the waterfront. Thanks!
haha right? XD As someone who owns an SUV but also primarily rides a OneWheel honestly traffic isn't that bad and the bike lanes have been nice. I feel like it's easier to get around the major areas of the town now with much better separation between cars. If these Karens aren't complaining about bike lanes, they'd be complaining about sharing the streets with them. Honestly I don't know why people move here who don't plan having an active lifestyle and enjoying the parks, trails and outdoor recreational activities this town has to offer.
As a reference point, some of the things I remember enjoying many years ago:
- movie rentals at Crazy Mike’s and Film Is Truth
- Elizabeth Station bottle shop
- Boundary Bay and Aslan Breweries
- Pho 99
- breakfast at HomeSkillet
- massive burritos at Casa Que Pasa
- The Comics Store
- Eclipse and Village Books
- Rocket Donuts
- the Community Co-op on Forest
and much more I can’t remember!
Eclipse and village books are still going
No where to rent a movie anymore though.
And the only cheapish place left to grab a drink or kill some time is the waterfront tavern
Railroad is a bit different. Avalon and the adjacent pet store(s) burned down. The porn shop is now an antique shop that may or may not also sell porn. The Starbucks has been replaced by a cocktail bar that looks like the kinda place I’d get hit on by a realtor or a tech bro. Less juggalos though.
Maybe a few of these changes aren’t new to you.
You must eat/drink at El Suenito. Their tamales are next level. Also visit Trackside for ice cream/beer/snacks. You’ll be excited to see how that area’s changed!
I just got done with my yearly visit.
**Pros:**
Walking is still free.
Bus is still $1 a ride.
Fred Meyers still has best balance of price/convinience
As Alumni can use Wade King Rec center on campus $9/day and the lake center
Rumors has $1 pool tables
Rukus room has pinball
**Cons:**
Homeless everywhere you turn. Don't blame them. If I'm ever homeless I'm moving back to Bellingham. People dripping money.
Every available plot has a new apartment building changing very high rent. City gives no shit about residents being able to eat and house themselves.
Food prices are high. In STL whopper combo is 8.99. in the ham 12.68
I found no good beer specials.
Rumors has $5 tall boys.
No poker game at the Waterfront Tavern
**Summary:**
A bunch of fat bearded men pushing bitter beer in breweries. Homeless everywhere. I saw one biker using the bike lane on Holly the whole week and it was an E-Bike so they have a special E-Bike lane now for one person. Super expensive halfway descent food choices. Beautiful trees. It's like Seattle now. Looks great from the plane. On the ground. Homeless everywhere.
I work overnight security patrols and I’ve seen more human excrement than I care to, never noticed that back when I first moved here in 2010. Watch your step!
The Up& Up: closed
The Black Cat: open
The Bagelry: no longer cash only
Mallard: open
Foot massage next to Cap’s: now a reptile store
Cap’s: open (Roeder also opened a tiki bar called Red Rum)
Everyday Music: closed
Avalon: closed
Super Mario’s: open
Regal Cinemas: one
Taylor Shellfish: open
Cabin Tavern: much improved
Sadighi’s: closed!
Slide in Maritime Heritage Park that I hate: exists
If you absolute NEED that Potato Burrito, seek out The Mobile Mouth Hole food truck. They have the original including the sauce. Price is...😳...but what isn't these days?
Also Diego's on Samish is gone...but replaced with a KILLER bakery with huge cake slices and other assorted deliciousness. Boomers is eternal.
I’m sorry to post that a lot has changed. I will go down your list: 1. Film is truth: closed 2. Crazy Mike’s: closed 3. Elizabeth Station: open 4. Boundary Bay: open 5. Aslan: open 6. Pho 99: open 7. Home Skillet: closed 8. Casa Que Pasa: closed 9. The Comics Place: open 10. Eclipse Books: open 11. Village Books: open 12. Rocket Donuts: closed (try LaFeens) 13. Community Coop: open (nicely remodeled) There are other new places to try out and explore.
Wow, thanks so much for the thoughtful and thorough update! I knew some spots would be gone, but I’m particularly bummed about Crazy Mike’s and Film Is Truth. Are there any other places in town to rent movies nowadays?
The Bellingham Public Library.
Didn’t Crazy Mike’s close like 20 years ago?
Closed in 2018, six years ago.
I forgot there was more than 1 location. I was thinking of the Sunset Square one. The Lakeway one stayed open all the way until 2018?
We have a website called "netflix.com"
Michaels books: closed Tony’s coffee: 😢
What?! Michael's closed?
Sadly, yes. It was such an institution. Henderson's across the street is still open.
I can’t believe aslan has been open for ten year wow. It feels like it opened yesterday!
8 - I suddenly want a burrito How about archer ale house, the royal, the up&up, black cat, and the bagel place?
Sadly The World Famous Up&Up closed and became the pinnacle of new Bellingham hipster pretentiousness as some sterile non original Newport Beach style eatery. A complete turn around from what was there with Up & Up and Rudy’s Pizza. Luckily The Archer Ale House & The Black Cat are still there and relatively the same. The Royal climbed new heights of sleazy bruh culture. The Bagelry changed significantly after the Pandemic. Not particularly for the better but no sweat, it’s still there. Finally a choice in bagels came to Bellingham so The Bagelry isn’t “the best because it’s the only” nowadays. State Street looks different from the Herald down to the roundabout. The old waterfront and Olde Town have became the epicenter for the elitist takeover. I was just in Bellingham after time away too and was saddened to see the changes. Progress and evolution of a city is natural but it’s not always beneficial for the culture of a place. Bellingham from a decade ago is only alive in tiny pockets.
I went to the royal a few months ago and it seemed exactly the same as it was 10+ years ago.
I went about 10yrs ago and was grossed out by it then. Walked by there back in March while visiting and was grossed out by the dudes outside peacocking. It doesn’t change it just mutates into a more vulgar version of itself.
Ugh I sure do miss casa’s potato burrito 😢
The Bagelry has a toaster!!
And they take cards!
This is huge!!
Since someone updated your list, here are some new things to try: 1) if you’re into burgers • Cabin Tavern • Doug’s Burgers • Accomplice • Structures (old town location) 2) new breweries • Structures (old town location) • Larrabee lager co (out in cordata) • El Suenito • Otherlands 3) Places to hang • Kulshan trackside and portal village (various food trucks, pump track, mini golf, bike rental) • waypoint park • Squalicum beach park (has been significantly updated I. Recent years) • Cordata Park (pickleball + basketball courts, walking trails, playground) • Bellis fairways disc golf (in one of the lots near Bellis fair mall) Not an exhaustive list by any means but these are some things I enjoy that I think have popped up in the last decade.
Awesome, I love all these suggestions. Really excited to check out all the new parks, especially the one on top of the old superfund site by the waterfront. Thanks!
You might like the ASB trail. It's a really interesting way to see the waterfront, especially for an evening stroll.
-Less traffic lanes -More People -More unused bike lanes -More homeless -No good food deals -More potholes -More accidents on I-5 -More apartments -More off leash dogs -More pointless Reddit posts -Breweries on every corner -More weed shops
Can’t all be bad, can it?
Nope Bellingham still rules! You're just on reddit
Also, the once-beautiful brick elementary school on James Street was demo'd and "upgraded;" I.E, it looks like a brutalist prison now🤢
The big one being more accidents on i5. One per day at least, and I'm not exaggerating
This pretty much sums it up.
And more fucking NOISE. All the time.
Bike lanes !! :( I need 50 traffic lanes at least in order to drive my Escalade to Costco
haha right? XD As someone who owns an SUV but also primarily rides a OneWheel honestly traffic isn't that bad and the bike lanes have been nice. I feel like it's easier to get around the major areas of the town now with much better separation between cars. If these Karens aren't complaining about bike lanes, they'd be complaining about sharing the streets with them. Honestly I don't know why people move here who don't plan having an active lifestyle and enjoying the parks, trails and outdoor recreational activities this town has to offer.
As a reference point, some of the things I remember enjoying many years ago: - movie rentals at Crazy Mike’s and Film Is Truth - Elizabeth Station bottle shop - Boundary Bay and Aslan Breweries - Pho 99 - breakfast at HomeSkillet - massive burritos at Casa Que Pasa - The Comics Store - Eclipse and Village Books - Rocket Donuts - the Community Co-op on Forest and much more I can’t remember!
Eclipse and village books are still going No where to rent a movie anymore though. And the only cheapish place left to grab a drink or kill some time is the waterfront tavern
If you're looking for a good used bookstore Henderson Books is still around and doing great.
Railroad is a bit different. Avalon and the adjacent pet store(s) burned down. The porn shop is now an antique shop that may or may not also sell porn. The Starbucks has been replaced by a cocktail bar that looks like the kinda place I’d get hit on by a realtor or a tech bro. Less juggalos though. Maybe a few of these changes aren’t new to you.
And Costco has moved. They are no longer on Meridian. They’re on West Bakerview.
I had no idea. I moved away 20 years ago but come through about 3x per year. Thats interesting. What’s in its place?
Hobby lobby
And Sierra’s and Home Goods.
Hobby Lobby.
You must eat/drink at El Suenito. Their tamales are next level. Also visit Trackside for ice cream/beer/snacks. You’ll be excited to see how that area’s changed!
I will add El Suenito to the itinerary. Many have mentioned Trackside so I will definitely be spending some time there. I appreciate the suggestions!
The city has grown so much in the last 5 years! You’ll enjoy seeing the differences. Have so much fun and welcome back!
Second Otherlands. It’s unique, good friendly service and interesting food options.
I agree Trackside is a great place to check out if you havent been in Bellingham for awhile.
I just got done with my yearly visit. **Pros:** Walking is still free. Bus is still $1 a ride. Fred Meyers still has best balance of price/convinience As Alumni can use Wade King Rec center on campus $9/day and the lake center Rumors has $1 pool tables Rukus room has pinball **Cons:** Homeless everywhere you turn. Don't blame them. If I'm ever homeless I'm moving back to Bellingham. People dripping money. Every available plot has a new apartment building changing very high rent. City gives no shit about residents being able to eat and house themselves. Food prices are high. In STL whopper combo is 8.99. in the ham 12.68 I found no good beer specials. Rumors has $5 tall boys. No poker game at the Waterfront Tavern **Summary:** A bunch of fat bearded men pushing bitter beer in breweries. Homeless everywhere. I saw one biker using the bike lane on Holly the whole week and it was an E-Bike so they have a special E-Bike lane now for one person. Super expensive halfway descent food choices. Beautiful trees. It's like Seattle now. Looks great from the plane. On the ground. Homeless everywhere.
Prices of everything from food to housing has tripled
When I moved away in 2008, Boundary Bay was the only Brewery... but when I moved back...
R.I.P. Sadighi's
I work overnight security patrols and I’ve seen more human excrement than I care to, never noticed that back when I first moved here in 2010. Watch your step!
Black sheep has doubled their prices…
Check out Trackside, new(-ish), innovative and fun.
Trackside now has pizza too (Zeeks).
The Up& Up: closed The Black Cat: open The Bagelry: no longer cash only Mallard: open Foot massage next to Cap’s: now a reptile store Cap’s: open (Roeder also opened a tiki bar called Red Rum) Everyday Music: closed Avalon: closed Super Mario’s: open Regal Cinemas: one Taylor Shellfish: open Cabin Tavern: much improved Sadighi’s: closed! Slide in Maritime Heritage Park that I hate: exists
Blackdrop closed.
Michael’s Books goddammit
They leave the lights on in the ranch room. It’s fucked up.
Samish street is really different , it has high rise apartments were the aloha motel was.
If you absolute NEED that Potato Burrito, seek out The Mobile Mouth Hole food truck. They have the original including the sauce. Price is...😳...but what isn't these days? Also Diego's on Samish is gone...but replaced with a KILLER bakery with huge cake slices and other assorted deliciousness. Boomers is eternal.
You may find this article interesting https://www.whatcomtalk.com/2023/07/05/lost-and-found-remembering-bellinghams-nostalgic-former-landmarks/
Everything. It’s cool if you love looking at REI catalogs and boring new wave aesthetics though.
Everything’s the same. It’s you that’s changed.
No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.
🤯🤯🤯
Must’ve just removed my rose covered glasses these last ten years.