News

POSTED: Monday, Apr. 07, 2008

Vandals hit Boulevard Park coffee shop

Graffiti ‘disturbing,’ owner says

UPDATED AT 6:45 P.M.

BELLINGHAM — Vandalism to the Woods Coffee shop at Boulevard Park Saturday was likely done by people opposed to the shop’s being on public property, police said Monday.

Vandals used stencils and red spray paint to write “Fascism begins with the sale of public space” on the window of the shop’s front door as well as the walk-up window at about 2 a.m., said owner Wes Herman.

The same stencil was spray painted four times along the boardwalk south toward Fairhaven, Bellingham Police Lt. Steve Felmley said. Woods, which leases the space from the city, opened in September.

The Woods at Boulevard Park has been vandalized at least five times since November, Felmley said, mostly involv-ing broken windows. In January, someone spray painted “We will not be yuppies” on the building.

Herman said he has never had vandalism to his other five locations in Whatcom County. He said people have criti-cized the Boulevard Park location and the Woods company in online blogs and comment boards for things ranging from his family’s supposed political views to their religious choices.

“We are Christians,” Herman said, “but we don’t broadcast our faith. We don’t beat people over the head and we don’t hire only Christians or anything like that. Those are just our personal beliefs and convictions.”

People have also criticized the city of Bellingham for allowing a private business to operate in a public park, Herman said.

“Obviously they’re not aware of how many businesses operate in public settings, such as the businesses operating on port (of Bellingham) land,” Herman said.

Bellingham Parks and Recreation Director Paul Leuthold said the process for placing Woods in the park was very public, despite criticism otherwise.

For years the space was leased to a private pottery studio, Leuthold said. When that lease was up, the Parks and Rec-reation advisory board, which is composed of community members appointed by the mayor, discussed what would be most appropriate for the space. The bidding process for the space was publicly advertised in 2006. The board con-cluded that Woods was the best applicant of several coffee shops and a kayak rental business.

“We enter into these partnerships all the time with the intention of building, maintaining or increasing the overall enjoyment of a park experience, and (Woods) is a perfect example,” Leuthold said. Other examples include the Fairhaven Village Green, and the Bellingham Sportsplex, he added.

Herman said Woods is comparing surveillance video from previous incidents to video from Saturday’s vandalism. He plans to post still photographs from the video in the store in the coming days. Police also are reviewing the video, Felmley said.