Kaisacole owner Mark Riedesel stands in his new seafood shop at 685 Peace Portal Drive. By Zoe Deal Blaine seafood lovers have something to look forward to.
Blaine’s own Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and Ferndale-based Barlean’s Fishery are partnering to open a seafood haven in the heart of downtown Blaine. If all goes as planned, the building will open as early as this weekend.
The beautiful interior of their new home puts the past and the future into conversation. Developer and owner Peter Gigante initially planned to simply renovate the two-story building – formerly owned by the Hollinger family – at 685 Peace Portal Drive, said Barlean’s Fishery owner Mark Riedesel. Gigante soon discovered the 1920s-era structure was beyond saving,
The three-story, 5,300-square-foot structure now in its place also includes three apartments.
The hardwood floors, shelves and banister on the main floor have been repurposed from the original building. Beautiful antique sliding doors and decor came from around Blaine.
The Drayton Harbor Oyster Company owners, father-son duo Steve and Mark Seymour, had an eye on the new build. The company had outgrown the place next door, where they were tenants for three years. When Gigante offered them a spot, they were happy to accept.
“We’ve outgrown [our current location], so this gives us an opportunity to service our customers in a better way,” said Steve Seymour.
The Drayton Harbor Oyster Bar will operate the same way as it did next door, serving delicious oysters raised in Drayton Harbor.
“We’ll pretty much be doing what we’re doing now because that’s what we know,” said Seymour. A dozen locally sourced beers on tap is the primary addition, though there is a possibility the menu will expand in the future.
Riedesel said he’s really just “copying and pasting” what Barlean’s already does into a new setting. Barlean’s sells high-quality seafood out of its current location in Ferndale, and supplies food to many Bellingham restaurants, including Bayou on Bay, Rock and Rye Oyster Bar and Boundary Bay Brewery.
The new Blaine location of Barlean’s will have a different name, however: Kaisacole. The business’ name is a blend of the names of Riedesel’s wife Nicole and their two kids Kaiden and Isa.
Kaisacole will be stocked with 25 fresh and frozen seafood products, including frozen calamari rings and tentacles, live crab, oysters, mussels, clams and seasonal fresh fish like salmon and halibut.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for Barlean’s to branch out and cater to more retail buyers,” said Riedesel. While they have a collection of devoted customers who shop at their current location in Ferndale, they don’t get many walk-ins.
“We’ll get exposed to the public a lot more, and we’ll be able to interact with new customers,” Riedesel said.
As a new build, the structure has been fashioned to suit both businesses perfectly. With a view of the water and a desirable central location, the rustic-modern space is well suited to developing downtown Blaine.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here