Shopping In Bellingham Washington 

Excellent Selection 

Shopping is delightful in the Bellingham area for a number of reasons.      Bellingham is both the county seat of Whatcom county, its largest city, and Bellingham's proximity to the Canadian border means it draws a large number of Canadians eager to avoid their 17% VAT Tax.      If you ask the average Canadian why they bother coming through the border to shop in Bellingham they will often tell you its the  selection that brings them here, though many locals believe its really the savings.   Canadians must endure a 17% VAT TAX on goods purchased in Canada so many simply do their shopping in beautiful Bellingham instead.     Excellent selection & friendly service --  What more could you ask for?        

Bellingham has a  large indoor shopping mall anchored by a number of major national chain stores as well as almost every specialty store or service you've come to expect in a major shopping mall.          

Meridian Street  

Bellingham's Main Shopping District

The Guide Meridian corridor north of interstate 5 is Bellingham's main shopping district and its busiest, drawing shoppers from throughout  Whatcom County and as far away as British Columbia.    The businesses listed below are just a sampling of what you'll find along this popular street.     Store hours vary and  business come and go so be sure to call them before making any unnecessary trips.

Bellis Fair Mall (Interstate 5 at Meridian)

Sunset District  

Downtown Bellingham

Downtown Bellingham has become less important now that most large department stores and businesses have relocated along Meridian, however, there are plenty of small shops to browse as well as several nightspots.   A major transformation is just around the corner as plans are being laid for the new Bellingham waterfront following the acquisition of a major parcel of property that now houses a paper factory.    Shops, Condos, Restaurants, and a new marina are all in planning stages and will be a huge boost for the Bellingham downtown area.

Fairhaven

The historic Fairhaven district is more for browsing than for serious shopping but it is a pleasant place to visit and have lunch.   There are art galleries and gift shops to wander through and you can get a glimpse of Bellingham bay and the ferry terminal which is the beginning point of the Alaskan Marine Highway.     From here you can board a ferry to just about every major city in Alaska, or you can board boats to Victoria B.C., or whale watching boats (Seasonal).

Fred Meyer Superstores

Mega-Supermarkets

These large megacenters  are a combination grocery and department store with  a wide range of products.    They are almost like a shopping mall all in themselves and very highly regarded by many people in the Bellingham area.     One Fred Meyers is located by the freeway at Baker View Rd.  And the other is located at I-5 and Lakeway  Rd.