The Port is thrilled to announce a significant expansion of The Portal Container Village to further enhance the social and cultural landscape of Bellingham’s downtown waterfront. The expansion features the addition of two exciting establishments - Zeeks Pizza and Bin 13 Wine Bar along with additional retail space dedicated to showcasing the talent of local artists. Bin 13 will have an upper-level deck, providing an elevated experience for visitors to view the waterfront bike park, the Digester Tanks and other industrial icons preserved from Georgia Pacific’s former Pulp Mill. The repurposed shipping containers have started arriving on the waterfront and will be open for business in May 2024.
The Port has signed ten-year leases with most of the tenants in The Portal and plans to expand the container village once again in 2025. The Port is interested in hearing from community members and local entrepreneurs about what The Portal needs next. A nail salon? A tattoo parlor? A coffee shop? Send your ideas or container business proposals to careyh@portofbellingham.com.
The addition of Bin 13 Wine Bar’s upper-level deck promises to be a hotspot for socializing, relaxing and taking in a unique perspective of The Portal and its surroundings. Zeeks Pizza, a popular Seattle area eatery known for mouthwatering pizza, has become a local favorite since opening its first Bellingham location in the Fountain District in 2021. Zeeks newest location is set to become the go-to destination for pizza lovers visiting the waterfront. Zeeks plans to stay open after the seasonal container village closes in October, offering year-round delivery from Bellingham’s waterfront.
In a nod to Bellingham’s vibrant artistic community, The Portal’s expansion will introduce more retail space dedicated to showcasing the work of local artists. From northwest designed merchandise and high-quality jewelry to handmade crafts and paintings, these affordable rental spaces will provide a platform for artists to connect with the community and share their creations with a wider audience. To reserve space for the 2024 season, contact containershop@portofbellingham.com.
Portal Putt’s nine-hole miniature golf course was a popular addition to The Portal in 2023. Portal Putt is adding nine more holes in 2024 for a full 18.
April Brews Day, the Northwest Tune-up, Noisy Waters Mural Festival, the Shoestring Circus, the Wake and Shake Family Fun Series and many more events and activities will be back in 2024. The Peter Paulson Stage is available for community members to rent by visiting https://www.portofbellingham.com/1011/Renting-the-Peter-Paulson-Stage.
To accommodate the increasing number of visitors to Bellingham’s downtown waterfront, the Port is adding a larger restroom for the 2024 season.
The Portal is located in the middle of Georgia-Pacific’s former Pulp and Paper Mill among historic buildings and artifacts like the massive Digester Tanks, which provide a sense of place and offer clues to the site’s industrial past. The Port has added interpretive signs to these industrial icons to help celebrate the amazing history of Bellingham’s downtown waterfront.
The Port invites the community to join in the excitement of the revitalization of Bellingham’s downtown waterfront. As a center for creativity and community spirit, The Portal Container Village continues to evolve, offering a vibrant space where people can gather and celebrate the history of the waterfront and richness of local culture.
About the Port of Bellingham
The Port is a countywide municipal corporation with a mission to fulfill the essential transportation and economic development needs of the region. Throughout Whatcom County, the Port owns, operates and maintains approximately 1600 acres of property including a shipping terminal, a cruise terminal, two marinas, industrial development areas, commercial uplands, parklands, shoreline public access areas and an international airport. For more information about the Port of Bellingham, please visit www.portofbellingham.com.
