WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — The following business announcements were recently received by Whatcom News.
Laserpoint, a customized products company owned by Randy and Kathy Cross, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in north Bellingham with an open house on Friday, May 20th, from 4pm to 6pm.
The open house will be held at 205 E Kelly Road and will include refreshments, laser engraving demonstrations and a free gift for each attendee.
Laserpoint began by creating customized, laser-engraved awards, trophies and plaques for businesses, teams and leagues. Later they acquired a laser that can engrave many more items, including name badges, tools, watches, plates and bricks.
Click for more information
Click for more informationThe company has since expanded into promotional products, embroidery and screen printing.
More information is available at their website, LaserpointAwards.com, and by calling (360) 398-8714.
Dave’s Sports Shop in Lynden has new owners and continues a history of family ownership.
In May, Dave and Claudia VanderHoek handed over the business to Will and Jenn Lathrop. The Lathrops had been training in the store for the past several months in preparation to take over the business.
Click for more information
Click for more informationDave’s Sports Shop has its origin as Jude’s Sporting Goods & Housewares. It was opened in 1957 by Jude and Gert VanderHoek in Lynden. It moved to different locations and son Dave VanderHoek and Dean Hendricks became partners with Dave’s parents over the years. Jude and Gert retired in 1993. The business eventually became an Ace Hardware location and included a sporting goods section. In 2007, Dave’s Sports Shop was opened at 1738 Front Street in Fairway Center, moving the sporting goods section of the hardware store into its own expansive space.
According to a press release, Will has been a customer of Dave’s Sports Shop since moving to the area in 2007. In October 2020, when he learned that the store was looking for new ownership, he and Jenn had a fleeting thought that the business could be fun to own. However, it wasn’t until early 2021, when a family member nudged the Lathrops to explore the opportunity, that they reached out to the VanderHoeks.
A Marine Corps veteran, Will has been an active outdoorsman for years, primarily hunting deer and elk but also high-country bear hunting. He has experience with rifle and bowhunting. He has been getting more into waterfowl hunting and is an avid fisherman and firearms owner. “I have been to Dave’s countless times for hunting licenses, shooting gear and all the things that go along with that,” he is quoted as saying in the press release.
The Lathrops plan to offer in-store classes and workshops and are exploring the possibility of expanding some product lines.
Click for more information
Click for more informationAs for the name of the store, the Lathrops say it probably would be easier to change Will’s name to “Dave” than change the store’s name.
“Our intent is to continue to serve the community as Dave and Claudia have done and to continue to meet the needs of Whatcom County hunters and adventurists,” Jenn is quoted as saying in the press release.
An open house retirement party for the VanderHoeks will be held at the Mount Baker Rotary Club building in Lynden, across the street from Dave’s Sports Shop, on June 8th from 5pm to 8pm.
Bellingham Physical Therapy Founders John and Marcia McWillams have decided to retire after 40 years. Physical therapist and former employee Heather Kreizenbeck has taken over the business.
According to an email from Kreizenbeck, “Bellingham Physical Therapy has been a fixture in the community, and the McWilliams have always given back. I hope to continue their legacy, as well as implement some modernizations to the practice.”
Bellingham Physical Therapy was founded in 1981 and is located at 306 36th Street in Bellingham. According to their website, “Bellingham Physical Therapy is a private practice orthopedic clinic, providing comprehensive out-patient physical therapy services.”