The Portal Container Village announces expansion; adding new restaurant and wine bar

Alyse Smith
·2 min read

The Port of Bellingham has announced its plan to expand The Portal Container Village.

The container village is one of Bellingham’s most popular spots, offering visitors a variety of restaurants, Kulshan Brewing, a pump track and concert venue for festivals like NW Tune Up during the summer months.

The expansion was first announced in June, promising to bring Zeek’s Pizza and Bin 13 Wine Bar to The Portal. Now, the Port of Bellingham has announced opening plans.

Aerial view of the Climate Action Week Kickoff Celebration evening Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, at The Portal Container Village near Waypoint Park on the Bellingham, Wash., waterfront.
Aerial view of the Climate Action Week Kickoff Celebration evening Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, at The Portal Container Village near Waypoint Park on the Bellingham, Wash., waterfront.

Bin 13 Wine Bar and Zeek’s Pizza are both expected to open May 2024, just in time for the container village’s open season.

Bin 13 Wine Bar will have an upper-level deck, allowing visitors scenic views around the area and experience “a hotspot for socializing, relaxing and taking in a unique perspective of The Portal and its surroundings,” according to a news release from Mike Hogan, the port’s public affairs administrator.

Zeek’s Pizza opened its first Bellingham location in 2021, and now its second location plans to stay open year-round, instead of closing with the rest of The Portal at the end of summer. The Seattle-based pizza chain serves pizzas, breadsticks, salads and desserts.

“The Portal has become synonymous with food, family, fun and adventure, redefining Bellingham’s underutilized waterfront by transforming used shipping containers into a vibrant hub of activity next to a large bike park. Kulshan Trackside has been recognized as ‘the most rad beer garden in the Pacific Northwest’ by Forbes. The 2024 expansion will take this concept to new heights, offering an even more diverse and enriching experience for residents and visitors alike,” the news release states.

But The Portal’s expansion plans don’t end here.

“The Port has signed 10-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,” the news release states. To send a business suggestion, email The Port at careyh@portofbellingham.com.

The Portal is also expanding its retail offerings by renting out shipping containers to local artists and entrepreneurs who want a space to sell their products. The container village will also be adding a larger restroom for the 2024 season.

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