A new children's hair salon with a fairy-tale theme is coming to Bellis Fair Mall in Bellingham this fall, and a beloved Fairhaven salon is expanding with a second location in Ferndale, according to the latest business news from across Whatcom and Skagit counties.
Hairy Tales, a salon designed exclusively for children ages 0 through 12, will open in suite 706 at Bellis Fair Mall during the second week of October, according to owner Laetitia Assink. The salon's concept centers on creating a magical, low-stress environment for young clients, particularly children who may be anxious about haircuts. The fairy-tale theming is intentional: Assink wants children to associate the salon experience with wonder and play rather than the anxiety that a traditional barbershop or adult salon can trigger for many kids. Haircuts will start at $26 and increase with add-ons such as hair washing and styling. Assink said children on the autism spectrum are "more than welcome" and that she is planning to add a dedicated low-sensory room to the salon in the near future to better serve children with sensory sensitivities.
The low-sensory room is a notable commitment. Many children with autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing differences, or anxiety find standard salon environments overwhelming: bright lighting, loud blow dryers, unfamiliar smells, and close physical contact can make even a routine haircut a significant ordeal for the child and the family. A dedicated low-sensory space, designed to reduce those triggers, addresses a gap that most children's salons and all adult salons simply do not fill. The timeline for that room's addition has not been specified, but Assink indicated it is part of her near-term plan for the space.
Assink is also looking for stylists who specialize in cutting children's hair and are interested in renting chairs at the new location for $700 per month. Working with young children requires a specific skill set: patience, the ability to work quickly when a child is squirming or upset, and familiarity with the techniques that make cuts flattering on kids at various stages of hair development. Stylists interested in working in a themed children's environment at one of Whatcom County's busiest retail destinations can contact the salon directly for more information. Suite 706 puts the new salon next to Ruckus, another children-focused business already operating in the mall, which suggests the corridor around that suite is becoming a natural destination for family-oriented services within Bellis Fair.
Salon Bellissima Expands to Ferndale
Fairhaven's Salon Bellissima, which has built a loyal following in the village neighborhood of south Bellingham, is opening a second location in Ferndale. The expansion brings one of Bellingham's established salons to a community that has seen significant residential and commercial growth in recent years as Ferndale's population has expanded with new housing developments along Slater Road, Hovander Road, and the city's growing east side.
The Ferndale location gives Salon Bellissima access to a customer base that has been growing faster than the local service economy has kept pace with. For residents in Ferndale who currently drive to Bellingham for salon services, the new location offers a shorter trip and a salon with an established reputation in the region. That reputation matters: Salon Bellissima built its name in Fairhaven, a neighborhood known for independent businesses and a clientele that takes local loyalty seriously. Translating that goodwill to a second location in a different city is not automatic, but the salon's existing name recognition gives it a head start that a brand-new venture would not have. The Fairhaven original location remains open at its existing address.
Bellingham and the surrounding Whatcom County communities have seen a pattern of successful Bellingham businesses extending into Ferndale and Lynden as those communities grow. Service businesses, in particular, tend to follow residential growth, and Ferndale's population trajectory over the past decade has made it an increasingly attractive location for expansion. The city's proximity to Interstate 5 and its relatively lower commercial rents compared to Bellingham proper make it a practical choice for a second location that can serve the northern Whatcom County population without cannibalizing the original business.
Other Regional Business News
Skagit County is getting a WinCo Foods. The warehouse-style grocery chain announced on social media August 14 that a new store will open at 1500 S. Burlington Blvd. in Burlington, though no opening date has been set and the space is currently under construction. When it opens, the store will operate 24 hours a day. WinCo, which is employee-owned and known for low prices, has locations in Bellingham and Mount Vernon but not yet in Burlington. The Burlington store will expand affordable grocery access in a community that sits between those two existing locations. WinCo's employee-ownership model and bulk-purchasing approach typically result in prices that are meaningfully lower than conventional supermarkets, a significant benefit for working families in a region where grocery costs have risen sharply in recent years.
In Mount Vernon, a new tea house and cafe called Mel and Mia's has opened at 320 South First St. Owners Bill and Rebecca Pennington previously operated a cafe in Edmonds under the same name, which they opened in 2016, before closing that location at the end of July to open the Mount Vernon restaurant. The name honors their daughters Melanie and Amelia, and the owners have described wanting to create a place where families feel special and children can feel celebrated. The cafe offers tea, sweets, breakfast, lunch, espresso drinks, and French press coffee. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with the extended Friday and Saturday hours accommodating the downtown Mount Vernon evening crowd.
What to Know Before You Go
For Bellingham families planning to visit Hairy Tales at Bellis Fair, the salon is targeting a second-week-of-October opening. The suite 706 location puts it near Ruckus, another children-focused business in the mall. Given the salon's stated commitment to accommodating children with sensory differences, families who have had difficulty with traditional salon environments may find it worth checking out when it opens. Calling ahead before visiting during the opening weeks is generally advisable for any new business, as hours and services sometimes shift during soft-open periods.
Bellis Fair Mall, located on Meridian Street in north Bellingham, already hosts a children's craft fair series run in partnership with the Bellingham Public Library, and the addition of a dedicated children's salon continues the mall's evolution toward family-oriented services. More on local business changes and community services can be found at the City of Bellingham's business resources page. For ongoing updates on new business openings across Whatcom County, including earlier coverage of business changes in the region, check our prior business roundup coverage.
