Briefs: Home median price hikes, Labels’ new owners, more Westside Pizza | Cascadia Daily News

Whatcom and Skagit counties’ median home sale prices rose in the third quarter compared to the same period a year ago — but individual communities varied a lot, according to a new report released by Peter Ahn of The Muljat Group. The report, based on data from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, found year-over-year median price increases of 12.4% in Whatcom to $652,000 and 3.4% in Skagit to $588,000. Both countywide Q3 dollar amounts are also higher than their full-year median prices for 2023.

Continuing to lead the way in median price inside each county were Bellingham ($795,000) and Anacortes ($675,000). Bellingham’s median was up 13.6% from the three months ending Sept. 30 a year ago. But Anacortes’ dropped 9.6% compared to the same period and was also down from its full-year 2023 median price. Additionally, Ahn reported a marked difference in the percentage increase for the number of homes selling in what he said is typically the busiest quarter of the year, with units sold up 2.9% to 739 in Whatcom, yet rising 11.6% to 443 in Skagit.

Labels Consignment, which operates two women’s clothing, beauty and housewares stores in Bellingham, has changed hands. Founder Sage Bishop announced in a blog post that after 20 years of ownership, employees Kasey Mills and Leah Landingham signed on as co-owners at the end of August. According to the post, Mills and Landingham have “hopes of reaching new locations and possibly adding a men’s section.” Labels’ stores include 2332 James St. in the Sunnyland neighborhood and 3927 Northwest Ave. in the Meridian neighborhood.

After more than a year of “coming soon” banners, regional chain Westside Pizza opened a second Bellingham restaurant in the Silver Beach neighborhood in late September. The new spot at 607 Northshore Drive next to Silver Beach Grocery joins other nearby Westside Pizza locations in Blaine, Everson, Ferndale, Lynden and in Bellingham’s Cordata neighborhood at 4260 Cordata Parkway. Posted Silver Beach hours on the Westside Pizza website are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Frontier Dermatology, which owns three dozen dermatology offices in Washington and Oregon, has acquired Bellingham’s Doherty Dermatology. Frontier said the practice’s rebranding was effective Oct. 1, but Dr. Mark Doherty will continue to lead the clinic and work with two additional Frontier dermatologists. Frontier’s first local clinic, dubbed “Bellingham North,” is at 4540 Cordata Parkway, suite 101, in the Cordata neighborhood. The newly acquired and renamed “Bellingham South” location is in the Sehome neighborhood at 1151 Ellis St., suite 202. Frontier said its history as a physician-owned and led company in the Pacific Northwest dates back to 2000, when its first practice was established.

Bellingham-based credit union WECU has awarded a $22,000 grant to the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County (EDASC) to help fund the next two years of EDASC’s Startup School program. The 12-week program, which began this year, offers aspiring entrepreneurs and small-business owners in Skagit County training in “foundational” skills such as business planning, marketing, finance and operations, as well as mentorship and networking opportunities. WECU’s Education First grant to nonprofit EDASC comes as Startup School graduated its first cohort of 24 students in June in a Spanish-language program and expects to wrap up its second, with a class of 20 in an English-language program, in November.

Frank Catalano writes about business and related topics for CDN; reach him at [email protected].