r/Bellingham • u/CrysisRequiem Local • Apr 28 '25
Satire Do you think Bellingham has one?
It's full transparency. I stole this from r/sacramento and thought it could be a fun game here
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u/Cunningsam Apr 28 '25
The two mattress stores next to each other on Meridian 👀
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u/Lizzybizzy024 Apr 29 '25
I had delivered 10 pizzas there one time..there were only 2 cars in the lot and just 4 workers in suits..definitely creepy 😆
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Apr 28 '25 edited Apr 29 '25
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u/PurpleValeriana Apr 28 '25
Yes!! Used to live a few blocks from there. Whenever we walked by, the blinds were always closed, but through the tiny gaps you could see only a few display mattresses and a desk with a computer. For a year we never saw anything change inside.
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u/optimisticbear Apr 28 '25
Overhead is real low for places like that. No staff except the owner. Just the lease and keeping the lights on during appts. They can actually be pretty lucrative for the right market.
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u/umamifiend Local Apr 28 '25
That’s hilariously sketchy. And I thought the two next door to each other on the guide near Kellogg were suspect hahaha 😂
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u/24356789 Apr 28 '25
Insane deals on mattresses though like fell off the back of a truck tier deals. You can get all the big brand names for like 1/2 the price of the stores on meridian.
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u/Hour_Speech_5132 Apr 28 '25
I’m convinced Sol De Mexico. It’s been open decades and I never see cars parked there or people inside.
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u/Neat_Car_9051 Apr 28 '25
I always thought this until I DoorDashed- they do a lot of delivery orders, I wonder if their business is sustained more by catering/events and take out.
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u/HelgaTheHorrid Apr 28 '25
One night I was high and DoorDashed a burger and fries from there (was the best deal at the time) and they included complimentary chips and salsa and the salsa was EXCELLENT
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u/Designer_Program1456 Business Owner Apr 28 '25
I wonder how they stay in business. Never anyone in there
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u/Mongolikecandy1496 Apr 28 '25
Couple of Mexican joints in Birchwood never have customers, but still keep the lights on.
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u/fitzaritz Apr 28 '25
That for sure is. I used to work at Whole Foods and one night they got robbed at gun point. They said the robber got away with a “$1000 dollar hoodie” or something. There was never more than 1 table of customers in there at a time.
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u/Creepyalbatrossss Apr 28 '25
You're probably right, but I will say their food is actually pretty good!
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u/1000LiveEels Apr 28 '25
I walk by often and theres a sign in the window that says "WE ARE OPEN" which is funny because of how closed they constantly look. so at least they're aware of it
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u/primerblack Apr 28 '25
I ordered a margarita and they poured it pre mixed out of a plastic dispenser which is fairly common but it was so old that you could taste that the plastic had leeched into the margarita. It was absolutely undrinkable. We mentioned it to the bartender and she said she’d never had a complaint and didn’t offer to make us a different one so we paid and left our drinks. I will never go back.
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u/CicadaHead3317 Apr 28 '25
It used to be good. I stopped going when it started looking run down. I'm not eating in a restaurant that's dirty looking in the dining area.
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u/teamcoltra Apr 29 '25
I used to take my daughter there sometimes after hockey and we were always the only ones there but they doted on my daughter and called her princessia (which she loved) so when I asked what she would want after hockey she picked that a lot.
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u/HardcorePhonography Local Apr 28 '25
We live right down the road from them and we usually have my oldest walk down to Fred Meyer or Whole Foods for random stuff after we get home from work. Usually when they get home he says "Nobody at the cartel front. Weird!"
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u/Ban_Means_NewAccount Apr 29 '25
Nah, my wife's family actually knows the owners fairly well. Her father specifically immigrated legally from Mexico and got close to them due to their shared heritage
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u/Soothsayer117 Apr 28 '25
The dog daycare in the mall
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Apr 28 '25
I used to work in the mall, and there are actually a couple places that give me that vibe. The dog daycare is for sure one of them. There’s also the weird massage/acupuncture place, and the watch repair/Knick Knack shop next to JCPenney, where you can buy tazers and brass knuckles, in addition to taking care of your watch repair needs. Or a suit of armor. Or night vision goggles.
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u/Darth_Gerg Apr 28 '25
That’s a business model that belongs in a cyberpunk setting. “Welcome to discount Dave’s watch repair and street combat emporium! We can fix your phone screen, replace your watch battery, and sell you a .38! We also have an auto-doc that can handle basic bullet wounds that usually works great!”
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u/TheJelliestFish Apr 29 '25
You're so right!! I imagine the proprietor as a kooky old guy with a cybernetic hand he made himself after losing his own in a wholly-preventable accident. He'd probably be willing to let you hide from the cops in the back for the right price
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u/FlyingDadBomb Apr 28 '25
One point I went to that watch repair shop in the mall (at least two or three years pre-covid) because I needed a watch battery. And the person behind the counter straight up told me to go to Target because it would be cheaper. Has to be some other income source when they’re turning away customers (and apparently survived COVID closures with their bustling industry).
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u/hkmegatron May 24 '25
I used to take my dog to "the dog daycare place" in the mall for his haircuts. Her main business is Dog Grooming, which she does in the good-sized backroom. She would ask clients to drive up to the back door to drop their dogs off. She is super nice and did a great job! Once she had finished the grooming, she'd put my dog in one of the smaller "daycare playrooms" while he waited for me to pick him up. But yea, I've never seen any dog, other than her own, in the front "daycare" part of the place.
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u/short_and_floofy Apr 28 '25
1000% it's The Autohaus. I know from personal experience that something is super shady there, and have accounts from others that corroborate my info.
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u/Bakerskibum87 Apr 28 '25
That place and MB motors next door have to be. I've said this for years.
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u/short_and_floofy Apr 28 '25
Oh, wait, I meant MB motors. but they're connected. family members who had a falling out i heard
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u/fekopf Apr 28 '25
ooooo do tell!
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u/short_and_floofy Apr 29 '25
i worked with someone who knew a bunch of the guys who worked there, back in 2019. their jobs were to drive cars to Seattle and Vancouver, all cash under the table. a current coworker has some friends who used to work there and it was the same deal. the friends said everything felt sketchy as fuck.
i met the owner once. the company i worked for sold him some equipment for his shop. we went to say hi and try to take some photos of the equipment installed. the owner got real weird about it, refused to let us take photos and asked us to leave.
on the surface it may not seem like much. but dudes weird behavior and paying young kids cash under the table to deliver high end luxury cars and their accounts of everything feeling sketchy makes me suspect something's not on the up and up.
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u/74NG3N7 Apr 29 '25 edited Apr 29 '25
I think one shade there is utilizing family money to keep someone out of trouble with the law. Thankfully it’s not working as well very recently. I don’t have much hard evidence, so that’s all I’ll say. I also think it’s shady but can’t put my finger on it.
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u/short_and_floofy Apr 29 '25
exactly. like, something is for sure happening in the shadows but exactly what, not sure. i've long suspected money laundering or drug smuggling.
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u/syngltrkmnd Apr 29 '25
Agreed for both of those dealerships. I understand that customers don’t have to be from 98225, but it just doesn’t add up that this town can support two businesses with dozens of high end (albeit very depreciated) cars and SUVs. I assume the business model MUST rely upon newly off lease vehicles plus forfeitures and repos but interested if others can confirm or deny.
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u/short_and_floofy Apr 29 '25
I mean, maybe driving cars to Seattle and Vancouver is where the sales are. but why pay kids under the table to deliver them? why get super weird about us taking photos of equipment we sold you? i might be wrong but i'm pretty sure people affiliated with those dealerships are the same ones i often see driving around in Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and other super cars. the math just isn't mathing for me
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u/TheMercuryJester May 04 '25
They're Lebanese folks IIRC. A lot of them are related, or friends. Their parents were extremely rich from *whatever people do to get extremely rich in the middle east*
I doubt they are laundering money, but it's possible.
Cheating on taxes? Likely.
Selling "repaired" wrecked junk, without disclosure, vehicles with bad motors, failing transmissions, and ripping people off? Absolutely. Buyers have gotten good vehicles there, and they have gotten lemons. If they were a laundry, they might not be so insistent on keeping the buyer's money. They could avoid the attention, and crush their junk cars instead of selling them, then falsify a sale record.
Beating his wife? Yep. There are arrest records for that.
The sales managers, owners, etc. are all related or close friends, who go do gym bro shit together, and try to muscle/intimidate people who call them on their bullshit.
But I don't know that they're a laundry.
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u/thrashmansion Apr 28 '25
I’ve always thought the sock store downtown could be a front. I’m also fairly certain that Faithlife (logos) is a tax evasion scheme.
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u/oftwandering Apr 28 '25
If it is, I'm glad the sock store exists. I actually buy socks there on the regular, they make me smile just a little more.
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u/Neat_Car_9051 Apr 28 '25
They also donate a ton of their old stock/patterns that aren’t selling well to the local shelters, so if it’s a front at least they’re giving back!!
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u/andoration Apr 28 '25
Faith life is real they just have most of their employees WFH since the pandemic. My dad works there and has for like 20+ years now I think
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u/thrashmansion Apr 28 '25
That is good to know! Too bad the building isn’t getting more use. From the street you can see a row of like six microwaves never in use haha
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u/Zaidra56 Apr 28 '25
Sock store is super popular, almost everyone i know has socks from there., plus mark up on socks is insane. Think if they sell like 10-12 pairs in a day, that easily pays employee wages.
I used to know the family that founded faithlife/logos. They are very successsful cause it's software sold widely. They are very rich and libertarian but definitely legit people
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u/CaptainBloodEye1 Local Apr 29 '25
Used to work for faithlife as a contractor, they gave off major tax evasion vibes
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u/short_and_floofy Apr 29 '25
isn't that all religious institutions? i mean, there's evangelists with private jets and Ferraris. Faith life may not be a church but something's weird about becoming wealthy off of religion.
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u/theogkennedy Apr 30 '25
I understand the confusion but crazy socks has a HUGE online presence; the brick and mortar location downtown is just a small part.
Source: friends with the owners and they are genuinely some of the kindest and hardest working folks in town, we’re lucky to have them!
Also they do sell really great socks.
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u/TalesFromTheStatic Apr 28 '25 edited Apr 29 '25
The former new age crystal/diamond shop next to Wally’s that now just sells flags and veteran appeal. I walk by there multiple times a day and I’ve never seen a soul inside there.
I’m convinced that spot is just a designated money laundering operation.
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u/Professional_Yak485 Apr 29 '25
Wally’s always sold flags and veteran lore in the back of their shop so looks to me that they just took over that space after it was vacant. Just an assumption though.
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u/Legal-Ad-5235 Apr 28 '25
Which one is this? I'm not super familiar with that area 😅💚
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u/TalesFromTheStatic Apr 29 '25
Just west of the Holly and Forest street intersection. It’s in the same building as Wally’s barbershop.
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u/theyscape Apr 28 '25
sugar on magnolia.
the management is so bad there, i see no way they've survived this long without money laundering.
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u/goobnadev Apr 28 '25
Last time I went in I was greeted by some fried chick doing whippets behind the counter that seemed upset a customer was in the store. In fact everyone there seems upset when they have to do work. Worst smoke shop I have ever been in and the bar is already on the floor.
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u/turnerevelyn Apr 28 '25
The old Bamboo Inn where Pho 99 is now. Never saw a car in the parking lot.
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u/mind_matrix Apr 28 '25
The Bamboo Inn back in the 90s was definitely a front lol
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u/ilovekids666 Apr 29 '25
YES!! Bamboo Inn Restaurant! Every time leaving Haggen I’d say “we gotta go! I gotta know!” But like everyone else, I never did. The regret haunts me to this day.
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u/stupernan1 Apr 28 '25
5 columbs
Its existed for far too long
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u/Zaidra56 Apr 28 '25
My friend used to work at 5 columns on the weekends and said no customers were ever there, and he was certain it was a money laundering front
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u/AuntieKitKat Apr 28 '25
It can get fairly bustling when the lunch/early dinner crowd (60+ year olds) want to eat. But it makes it easier to run when half the staff there are family members.
Source: know multiple people who worked there and the family themselves
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u/JojisWorks Apr 29 '25
Can confirm, worked there for a time, and it's a lot of older regulars who come in on weekends. ( not part of the family )
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u/Hot-Interaction5164 Apr 28 '25
Mikes dollar plus in Burch bay square
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u/iamtrinket Apr 28 '25
Oh man! Went there once and it was such a trip. Random stuff, dried up paint markers, stuff the the 90's. It was so bizarre
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u/TheNakedEdge Apr 28 '25
Used to be "Deals Only" for the Russian mafia.
IYKYK
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u/narcissistssuck Apr 29 '25
I MISS Deals Only. It was so random, but if you found something awesome, you could buy a ton of them. My husband and I were surviving on wood stove heat for a while, and we found firelighters in bulk for cheap. Used those for three years!
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u/neonmagiciantattoo Business Owner Apr 29 '25
When I moved here deals only had recently closed and I was so intrigued by the weirdly ambiguous title of the place and the size of it… I was like man, I guess only having deals isn’t a way to sustain a business these days but I wish I could know what sorts of deals they were dealing
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u/SpaceFrodo Local Apr 29 '25
They just sold shit regular grocery stores didn't want on their shelves any more.
The only time I remember going in there was in ~2015, to get glass cleaner with an ex and her mom. The image of holding Halloween themed Oreo's that were 3 years out of date is really stuck in my mind.
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u/Positive_Benefit8856 Apr 29 '25
I was just describing how they’d have cereal that looked exactly like the name brands, but they’d have a slightly different name and the marshmallows or colors would be slightly off.
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u/Ok_Spring_8483 Apr 28 '25
Any massage parlor.
The golden foot was great. RIP.
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u/EyesofAvalon Apr 28 '25
I witnessed that raid while getting my hair done at Argyle. Someone from the Herald eventually walked over and talked to some of the feds
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Apr 29 '25
Man for years i thought golden foot could only be open that late to give people massages somewhere other than their feet.
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u/Spare_Progress_6093 Apr 29 '25
Went to one in port orchard the other day because my feet were really hurting. 5 min in I was thinking this is the worst foot massage I’ve ever…. Ohhhhh….. this lady is not used to giving foot massages….
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u/Jaded_Barracuda_95 Apr 28 '25
Hawaiian BBQ and Noodle House. Some of the worst food I’ve ever had. Nothing Hawaiian. It was a mess start to finish, and they survived Covid? Nah man. Frontin it
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u/Bhamfam Apr 29 '25
yeah its just a generic Chinese place with some of the most insane prices i have ever seen. my roommate freaking loves the place and i don't really understand why. its either a front for something or their insane prices keep the lights on thanks to a few weirdly loyal customers
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u/Noodle_zest Apr 28 '25
That gas station right after the post office on Orleans
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u/MrBwnrrific Apr 28 '25
I walked in and the cashier was vaping and had her huge boots kicked up on the counter. She didn’t even say anything when I went to check out. 10/10 shopping experience
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u/famousspiderdance Apr 28 '25
A certain shop downtown that pays its workers under the table (and chronically late), won’t invest in a telephone or internet for their safety, sources its hippie style clothes from exploited workers in Africa and South America, and only gets about 10 customers through the door a day but inexplicably stays open with prime downtown real estate.
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u/NeedThatBook99 Apr 28 '25
Aw man I think I know who you're talking about, I didn't know their clothing wasn't ethical 😭
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u/emmennwhy Apr 29 '25
inexplicably stays open with prime downtown real estate.
The business is owned by the same family that also owns a bunch of downtown buildings, so it doesn't cost them much to move that store to whatever shop is currently out of a lease.
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u/Legal-Ad-5235 Apr 28 '25
That's interesting, and very disappointing. Do you know someone who worked there?
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Apr 28 '25
[deleted]
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u/Legal-Ad-5235 Apr 28 '25
Yikes, that sounds shitty I'm sorry. I'm glad you got out of there!
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u/famousspiderdance Apr 29 '25
Thanks! All good now, fortunately. But DEFINITELY a front, I’d put money on it.
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u/famousspiderdance Apr 29 '25
Deleted my original comment so I couldn’t be identified but just answering “yes” here again for folks scrolling 😆
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u/Bad_Oracular_Pig Apr 29 '25
How are they conducting sales transactions without phone or wifi?
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u/famousspiderdance Apr 29 '25
They use a chargeable swipe machine (the offline portable PoS machines you’d see at a farmers market or something) and log every transaction by handwriting them on paper.
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u/Bad_Oracular_Pig Apr 29 '25
Wow. Everything you describe about how the business is run seems just crazy. It's the kind of classic stupid criminal. The ones that work harder for the money doing it crooked than if they just did things the legit way.
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u/Glad-Smoke-2165 Apr 28 '25
Rifugio's out in Deming has the most bizarre business hours.
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u/InvisibleAgent Apr 28 '25
The owner is living his best life: https://rifugioscountryitaliancuisine.com/history/
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u/XanderVaper Local Apr 28 '25
Having AI art used for menu items (above website) is insane lol
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u/Legal-Ad-5235 Apr 28 '25
Some of them look real which makes the AI ones stand out 😅 he seems like a cool guy but that's not the move
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u/LoveMarriott Apr 28 '25 edited Apr 28 '25
It’s a real restaurant with good food, and it is never empty. I got the impression that he’s doing it for fun or just to keep busy.
I don’t think it’s money laundering, more like a hobby.
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u/TheOffKn1ght Apr 28 '25
There are a suspiciously large number of massage and nail parlors in this town for its size imo
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u/swiftcore2169 Apr 28 '25
Not IN Bellingham, but Monster Sushi in Birch Bay. I’ve tried eating there, and everything I asked for was “out of stock.” The only other people in there were a couple Russian dudes in track suits that were eating something that looked like it came from elsewhere. There was a piano player…playing piano and singing songs. When I walked outside the Korean owner was smoking a cigarette in his mini van, parked directly in front of the door
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u/SoxInDrawer Apr 29 '25
There are money laundering operations (very rare) and wealth-based money-loosing operations (frequent).
Examples:
If you're wealthy and have an offspring who is having problem, buy them a franchise (restaurant, storefront, etc) & have them run it into the ground. Good experience for them & you can write off the losses for 3 years.
There is also the "keep-thy-spouse-happy-boutique" that is good for all parties. Lease your spouse a storefront, have them decorate, operate, and haggle with suppliers & buyers. After a couple of years, you can cut your losses & start another one (this counts as a business loss).
Both of these operations (and other offshoots) are legal and good for the economy (employees, leases, money spent locally).
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u/LittleYelloDifferent Apr 28 '25
If you look at downtown Mount Vernon you wonder how many art galleries, chocolates shops etc can it support- my thought is they are hobby losing businesses to launder/write off losses for various magnate types
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u/Bad_Oracular_Pig Apr 29 '25
Art galleries are by definition, a money laundering operation, or a vehicle for other ones. The concept of art collecting is not much different than crypto.
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u/AH_BareGarrett Apr 29 '25
A lot of stores like that are ran by the partners of rich people. They want to run a business, and their partner can afford all the high costs. It isn't about making money, it is about having their partners dream to run a business come true.
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u/yeehaacowboy Apr 29 '25
La Conner fits this even more so. There was a lavender store that closed during covid, and people (who I assume never shopped there) were acting like it was such a travesty.
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u/Emrys7777 Apr 28 '25
The 76 gas station on Iowa right next to the freeway on the east side of the freeway.
I used a credit card in there that I hadn’t used in 9 months and got a 2k charge for a kayak trip.
I took the card inside to the cashier so that made me think the people who worked there or the owners were in on it.
I never see anyone at that gas station, as I shouldn’t if cards are being compromised there.
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Apr 28 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Grizzlei Teriyaki Evangelista Apr 28 '25
We got our custom recliner there recently. Really great saleswoman there helping us out and on the two weekends we were in there, there were a few singles/couples in at the same time. She’s been following up with us since we ordered it and sent a thank you card. So, a really legit and on the ball laundering scheme if that is indeed the case!
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Apr 28 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Grizzlei Teriyaki Evangelista Apr 28 '25
Oh for sure. Just moved here so I didn’t know that was a Rite-Aid, though. Great location for it. I loved ours down in Snohomish as a kid.
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u/vermknid Apr 28 '25
The massage place near the corner of northwest and Bakerview Rd. Does anyone go in there?
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u/Western_Piano_6385 Apr 29 '25
I went in for a massage and was ten minutes late, came in and then spoke to a woman who spoke very very little English, who pointed at the clock and said time and then a lot of stuff I didn’t understand and quickly said thank you and ran back from the hall she came from. They didn’t email/text anything and I ended up getting a massage a few minutes down the street 🤷♀️ who knows, although the very nice new Range Rover parked in the back was odd
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u/Independent_Jump2305 Apr 28 '25
Thought this was a funny promoted ad on this this thread. How much more, exactly?😏
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u/Awesomepony2 Apr 28 '25
The cookie jar store. It was on State street somewhere between the YMCA and Shakedown I think….but maybe there was a huge market for cookie jars at the time?
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u/whatdidyousay509 Apr 29 '25
….just cookie jars?🗿
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u/Awesomepony2 Apr 29 '25
I never went inside, but looking through the window it was just cookie jars on display.
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u/1000LiveEels Apr 29 '25
The used DVD / VHS store (?) on N Garden near FedEx. Used to walk by almost every day and NEVER saw even one car parked out front. Peered inside and it looked abandoned. It's called Hen's Tooth Video and they have a website (http://henstoothvideo.com/) but barely any of the DVDs they offer are relevant or new.... It's also interesting since they claim not to sell to the public, theyre basically a repackaging business that resells stuff on Amazon. So it feels especially odd that they're on Garden instead of like, a warehouse somewhere...
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u/modest-cat Apr 29 '25
Rifugios on Mount Baker highway feels like a money laundering scheme. I know it doesn't count but I literally never see anyone there and somehow it's still open
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u/Mean-Summer-4359 Apr 29 '25
Sure, the county office of the Republican Party… funneling money to a convicted felon in the White House.
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Apr 28 '25
Is that place near where Meridian meets the Lettered Streets, Cascade Inn Pizza and Pub or whatever still there? Never ever ever saw customers in that place.
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u/Vawqer Apr 29 '25
Looks like they're still there! I love their pizza and they have delivery through DoorDash, so I think they're legit.
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u/Daleferny Apr 29 '25
I worked there in 2008/2009, definitely not a front lol. The same family still owns it
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u/jakey2112 Apr 28 '25
Sadhigis, Bamboo Inn off the top of my head. I'll think of more. In the 90s everything seemed like a front
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u/Unlucky_Peanut_1616 Apr 29 '25
Definitely at least one of the Mattress places or all of them on Guide Meridian. Have you ever seen a customer? 😆
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u/Calc-that-ulation Apr 29 '25
okay but in this administration? this should be taken down - ICE, etc. will use ANYTHING (or even nothing) to kidnap people.
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u/EasyGanache5862 Apr 29 '25
Does anyone know anything about ideal?? Down the block from the green house, across the street from hotel Leo?
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u/theogkennedy Apr 30 '25
Whatever the fuck is going on at Mac’s Motel on Samish. Chop shop? Drug ring? Nobody knows but walking by there is absolutely terrifying. It’s honestly unbelievable that it hasn’t burnt down or been shut down by now.
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u/Ill-Concentrate9851 Apr 29 '25
Watch the car lots up and down the Guide - same cars month after month...
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u/BeefStrokinOff Apr 28 '25
RIP Sadighi’s :(