Shopping
Whether you’re hunting for bargains or looking for handcrafted wares, boutiques, or outdoor gear, Bellingham and the greater Whatcom County region have a ton of great places to shop.
Head to Downtown Bellingham and the Historic Fairhaven Village to find unique shops full of locally made items. Just outside of Bellingham other neighborhood shops and antiques stores can be found on Front Street in Lynden, Peace Portal Way in Blaine, and Main Street in Ferndale.
Looking for larger stores? Check out Bellis Fair Mall, Meridian Street, and Sunset Square in Bellingham.
Shopping in Bellingham
Show your local love--and score rewards--with the Think Local First Holiday Passport! At each stop, you can check in and collect points to earn prizes – all for shopping at the finest local retailers in Bellingham and Whatcom County.
From I-5, Take Exit 253 & 254
A traditional downtown district with cultural flair. Features specialty shops, antiques, galleries, cafes, and restaurants combined with the Downtown Bellingham Arts District. The Bellingham Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday (April-December), and this neighborhood is where parks, shops, and cultural organizations meet up with the historic and scenic waterfront. Street parking is available, but a large parking garage on Commercial St. is a great option as well.
Off I-5, Take Exit 250
Tucked into turn-of-the-century buildings with classic brick facades, find upscale galleries, clothing, jewelry, books, gifts, cocktail bars, and some of Bellingham’s best restaurants. Don’t miss Paper Dreams, Good Earth Pottery, and Village Books.
Off I-5, Take Exit 256
This regional shopping mall includes major department stores (Macy’s, JCPenney, Kohls, Old Navy, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Target) and nearly 150 smaller shops (including American Eagle and Victoria’s Secret). Also includes a large food court.
Running adjacent to Bellis Fair Mall, Meridian St. is a major arterial that offers local and nationally recognized stores. Nearby are Walmart, Trader Joe's, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Hobby Lobby, and Best Buy.
Off I-5, take Exit 255 (turn onto Barkley Blvd. and follow East)
Barkley Village on Woburn Street brings “a little bit of old-world charm” through its architectural design. The plaza features specialty shops, a fine grocery store with a food court and wine shop. In addition, there are unique restaurants including Scotty Brown’s and Jalapenos, and a 16-plex movie theater with IMAX.
More Nearby: Sunset Square – I-5, Exit 255
Sunset Square features Daiso, Safeway, Goodwill, Panera Bread, and several specialty shops.
Duty Free stores sell alcohol, tobacco, perfumes and gift items that are duty free. [Find locations near the border in Blaine, Sumas, and Lynden.]
Restrictions apply dependent on length of time out of the country or total personal declarations. Stay in Whatcom County for a few days and take advantage of these allowances. Conveniently located across the border, Whatcom County has a wide variety of shopping, dining, and lodging.
Read more details here.
Shopping in Whatcom County
10 miles north of Bellingham off Highway 539
Front Street in downtown Lynden highlights its Dutch heritage through architecture. The Jansen Art Center, Lynden Heritage Museum, bakeries, restaurants, antique shops, and frequent events all make a day in Lynden delightful.
On I-5, Take Exit 262
Locally owned restaurants, breweries, antique stores, and shops line Ferndale’s Main Street. Do a little shopping and dining before or after exploring Hovander Homestead Park or visiting the healing spa at Flow Motion.
