From Our Executive Director: State of Downtown, Spring 2026

Lindsey Payne Johnstone, Executive Director of the Downtown Bellingham Partnership, presenting the strategic plan during April 2026 event.

Downtown Bellingham continues to navigate many of the same economic pressures affecting business districts across the country, including rising operating costs and shifting consumer spending habits. We know these challenges are real for many of our businesses, particularly in the retail and hospitality sectors, and we are committed to listening to and advocating for our community's needs.

At the same time, there are strong indicators that Downtown remains a vibrant and resilient economic center. With newly available data, we know visitation to Downtown continues to grow year over year, with 7.9 million non-resident visits in 2024 (+1.9% YoY) and 8.1 million visits in 2025 (+2.1% YoY). To see continued increases in visitation despite reduced Canadian crossings affirms that economic activity continues to gravitate toward Downtown Bellingham as a place to gather, dine, shop, and experience community. Nearly one-third of all visits now occur during evening hours, underscoring the important role nightlife, arts, and entertainment play in our local economy and identity.

We also appreciate the City’s recent Vacancy and Vibrancy Study, which recognizes that a healthy Downtown is about more than filling storefronts - it’s also about creating energy, activity, and opportunity. Many of the strategies identified in the study align with work already underway through the Downtown Bellingham Partnership’s strategic plan, including activating underutilized spaces, supporting storefront improvements, and strengthening collaboration between businesses, property owners, and public partners.

What continues to inspire us most is the entrepreneurial spirit of Downtown Bellingham. Our businesses are our neighbors, creatives, and risk-takers, and the Partnership remains focused on helping create the conditions for them to succeed through advocacy, promotion, events, and responsive programming. Downtown’s future will continue to be shaped through collaboration, and we remain optimistic about the direction we’re headed together.