Downtown Bellingham’s Full of Heart - See Its Stronger Beat
By: Lindsey Payne Johnstone, Executive Director of the Downtown Bellingham Partnership
Downtown Bellingham is the heart of our city—a heart that cherishes character, creativity, small business spirit, connection, kindness, and pride. Like any heart, it’s been tested by pressure and pain, but it keeps beating because people continue to show up and care for it.
In recent years, Downtown Bellingham has been pressured by regional and national stressors, including community mental health issues, housing scarcity, high cost of living, and a changing generation of small business owners. These challenges have drawn the attention and dedication of not only the staff and board at the Downtown Bellingham Partnership, but also Mayor Lund’s leadership team through the Downtown Forward actions and commitments.
In parallel, what’s happening today tells a more nuanced story—one of resilience, reinvestment, and renewal. Downtown is improving, and this progress is made possible because of people who deeply believe in what this place means to our community. As my own heart has grown over my seventeen years with the Downtown Bellingham Partnership, I’ve watched this place endure, adapt, and recover. In my first year as Executive Director, I’ve seen the signs of renewal more clearly than ever, and I’d like to offer insight to inspire optimism for Downtown.
Recently, several cornerstone businesses didn’t just choose to stay Downtown, they doubled down on it. To name just a few:
Greenhouse and Backcountry Essentials each moved into new spaces on State Street over the past year, purchasing their buildings and reaffirming their commitment to the district’s future.
The Pickford Film Center expanded with a second location on Grand Avenue, adding more life to the Arts District. This investment represents not only the strength of the Pickford’s organization and mission, but the community’s $2.7 million in private donations and grants, declaring that Downtown arts and cinema are vital to our community.
The owners of the Wild Buffalo House of Music are soon opening another Downtown endeavor, applying their long-standing nightlife expertise to a new community entertainment experience they're calling Bellingham's 'new living room'.
Redlight’s owner invested in not only their new location on Grand Avenue, neighboring the new Pickford cinema, but also a new concept, The Elk Street Bar on State Street. Elk Street joins Roe, celebrating its first year in business on Unity Street, in elevating Downtown’s fine dining experiences.
PLACE, a real estate tech company, relocated from Barkley to Downtown, bringing over 200 employees to the City Center and revitalizing weekday foot traffic.
The best measure of a Downtown’s heartbeat isn’t its struggles, it’s how we care for it. The significant investments that strengthen Downtown’s pulse are paired with everyday acts of stewardship, including planting flower bulbs, repainting over graffiti, providing grants for storefront improvements, and coordinating events that stimulate and enliven the streets. These small, consistent efforts don’t make headlines, but they’re close to my heart, and they’re core to the Downtown Bellingham Partnership’s mission.
What’s happening in Downtown Bellingham today is a collective effort to care for and strengthen our district. Through beautification, business investment, public-private collaboration, and renewed City attention, Downtown’s heartbeat is strengthening. Every person who chooses to live, work, volunteer, or simply attend one of Downtown’s signature events plays a role in that progress.
This holiday season, consider making Downtown part of your traditions again. See the lights and snowflakes, hear live music, share a meal, or browse a shop you haven’t visited in a while. Your presence and intention matter. They’re what keep the heartbeat of Bellingham strong and shape what’s next for our neighborhood, and that future is bright. Thank you for opening your mind and heart to this message. I’ll see you Downtown.