BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A major commercial property purchase will soon by considered by the Port of Bellingham.

The proposed purchase agreement would include Bornstein Seafoods’ three buildings on Hilton Avenue in Bellingham.

Bornstein listed the buildings for sale in 2024. The Port of Bellingham already owns the land on which the buildings are located and has leased the land to Bornstein for decades.

At the time of the sale listing, Bornstein said they planned to move their operations out of Bellingham to Astoria, OR in an effort to consolidate operations. Bornstein Seafoods was founded in Bellingham during the Great Depression.

If approved, the port would pay the company nearly $6 million for all three buildings and any other rights held by Bornstein.

My Bellingham Now previously reported on a fire that broke out in one of Bornstein’s cold storage facilities in September. The $6 million total includes repair costs related to the September fire.

Commissioners will also consider adding a $1.2 million fire repair project into their 2027 budget. Both the proposed purchase agreement and the fire restoration project will be discussed at their upcoming meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 17.