DAVE GALLAGHER
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
There soon will be retail space available on Meridian Street.
Cascade Fine Furniture announced last week it is closing its 14,400-square-foot store after it has a 60-day liquidation sale.
The store opened nearly two years ago at 3548 Meridian Street, but owner Greg Metzger said it just couldn’t get to a point where they were making a profit. Four employees will lose jobs as a result of the closure.
“We might have been able to build up enough of a customer base if we held on for another year, but we were not in a financial position to do that,” said Metzger. “It’s been a great area, but we simply didn’t get enough of the market share to make it work.”
When the store leaves around the end of July, the entire 28,000-square-foot building will be empty. The other half of the building has been vacant since Michael’s Arts & Crafts moved into its new building a few years ago.
Metzger will continue to run the rest of his business, which has the Montana Furniture name and is headquartered in Bozeman. Montana Furniture was the original name of the Bellingham store before it changed in December.
A Western Washington University graduate who grew up in Ferndale, Metzger purchased the company about 10 years ago.
BANNER BANK WILL TRY OUT A NEW CONCEPT NEAR WWU
When Banner Bank officials decided to open a branch near Western Washington University, they chose to make the space look a little more like Starbucks and a little less like the typical bank.
Bruce Clawson, senior vice president and division manager for Banner, said they plan to open a 1,400- square-foot branch next to Blockbuster in August.
Along with the standard bank stuff, like a drive-thru and ATMs, the bank will have a lounge area, self-serve kiosks and a self-serve espresso machine.
Employees won’t be in suits and ties, and they’ll have promotions geared toward college students.
“We wanted to create a friendlier atmosphere,” Clawson said. “This concept is the first for our company, and we’re excited to see how it works out.”
LOCAL COMPANY IS READY TO MOVE INTO BIGGER DIGS
Employees and customers at Persnickity Designs, an accessory manufacturing company, will soon be getting plenty more elbow room.
The company, currently in a 600-square-foot spot in the Crown Plaza building in downtown Bellingham, will move to a 3,000-square-foot space on Chestnut Street near The Herald Building.
The company makes a variety of products, including purses and wallets, selling many of them on the Internet.
Owners James and Rebecca Senechal hope to be in the new spot in early July.
Retail Tip Sheet runs each Monday. Reach Dave Gallagher at 715-2269 or dave.gallagher@bellinghamherald.com.
