Beer garden opening, brewery tours come back, restaurant expansion and more

Here’s a roundup of the latest retail and restaurant activity around Whatcom County:

Banter restaurant expanding

Banter is planning to add an outdoor patio seating space to its restaurant and has applied for permits through the city of Bellingham. The new addition likely will not be built until late summer according to owner Emile Diffley, as permits are yet to be approved by the city, Diffley wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald.

Kulshan’s Trackside opening

Kulshan Brewing Company announced the opening date for its Trackside beer garden to return for the summer on a Facebook post.

The beer garden will open Friday, May 5, and be open Fridays through Saturdays in May and every day starting in June at 298 W. Laurel St. in Bellingham, according to previous reporting from The Bellingham Herald.

Aslan brings back brewery tours

Aslan Brewing Company announced that it will start hosting brewery tours again, beginning on April 23.

The tours cost $15 per person and last 50 minutes. Guests will also receive a 12-ounce beer and a coupon for 15% off at the Aslan Depot. Tickets for tours can be purchased online.

New pizza restaurant

A vacant storefront near Walmart and next to Gandolfo’s New York Deli is planned to become a pizza restaurant called Pizza Twist, as building permits have been submitted under the business name to the city of Bellingham for pizza ovens, mixers and other construction. The storefront currently has paper covering the windows and no signs displayed, and is at 103 Stuart Road in Bellingham.