I’ll get a complete story up later today on the news site, but Owner Noel Lemke has announced he will be moving the Sportsman Chalet from downtown Bellingham to Sunnyland Square, next to Trader Joe’s on James Street.
Lemke said he plans to be in the new space by August. It’ll be a smaller space (about 8,500 square feet, compared to 13,500 square feet on Holly Street) but the layout of the space will lend itself to a more efficient layout. He will continue to carry the same sports products, including tennis, soccer, skis, snowboards and outdoor gear.
Lemke said there were a variety of factors of his leaving, with parking being one of them. “None of my competitors have parking meters,” he said. “I wish we could have stayed downtown, but the new space has great traffic, with Trader Joe’s nearby being a major draw.”
Seems like a win-win for Noel. Surprised this space hasn’t gone sooner.