A sandwich board outside Luna’s Bistro in Bellingham announces the restaurant’s upcoming closure. Photo courtesy of Elisa Claassen to Bellingham Metro News.
Luna’s Bistro will permanently close its Bellingham restaurant in Barkley Village this week, bringing an end to a 15-year run serving customers in Whatcom County.
The restaurant confirmed the closure Sunday, Sept. 6, announcing that its final day of service will be Friday, Sept. 11. In a statement posted to Facebook, the owners said the time had come to retire and thanked the customers and employees who have been part of the restaurant over the years.
Bellingham Metro News first learned of the planned closure Saturday, Sept. 5, after receiving a photo of a sandwich board outside the restaurant announcing that Luna’s was closing and inviting customers to return Sept. 10 and 11.
BMN chose not to report the closure based solely on the sandwich board while seeking additional details and confirmation from the restaurant. Luna’s publicly confirmed the closure the following day through a post on its Facebook page.
“After 15 wonderful years of serving Whatcom County community, the time has come for us to officially hang up our aprons and retire,” Luna’s Bistro wrote in its announcement.
The restaurant is located at 3004 Cinema Place in Barkley Village, next to Regal Cinemas Stadium 16.
The closure follows years of indications that the longtime restaurant could eventually change hands. Bellingham Metro News has previously reported on Luna’s Bistro appearing for sale on commercial real estate websites over the years.
The Bellingham Herald reported in January 2025 that the restaurant had been listed for sale since 2023 and that longtime owner Jesse Cantu was preparing for retirement.
More recently, a commercial real estate listing for the business at 3004 Cinema Place was marked pending and showed a July 29, 2026 update date when reviewed by Bellingham Metro News. The listing described the business as an opportunity to continue operating an established restaurant with a full bar.
The pending status raises questions about what could come next for the space, but as of Sunday, Bellingham Metro News has not confirmed a new restaurant, business or operator for the location, even after reviewing available state records. A pending business listing does not necessarily mean a sale has closed.
Washington Department of Revenue business records reviewed by Bellingham Metro News on Sept. 6 continued to list Luna’s Bistro as an active registered trade name under Jalapenos, Inc. The Luna’s Bistro trade name was first issued in March 2014.
The 2014 trade name registration does not necessarily represent the restaurant’s original opening date. Luna’s says it has served the Whatcom County community for 15 years. Other trade names associated with Jalapenos, Inc. in state records have registration dates going back to 2011 and 2003.
State records also continued to show active licensing connected to the Cinema Place location when reviewed. Business and licensing databases can take time to reflect closures, ownership changes or other changes involving an operating business.
In its farewell message, Luna’s thanked customers for celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and everyday meals at the restaurant over the years and also thanked current and former employees.
“We hope you will stop by over the next few days to share a final meal, say hello, and reminisce,” the restaurant wrote.
Luna’s Bistro is expected to remain open through Friday, Sept. 11.
Bellingham Metro News will continue following the story and report if a new restaurant, business or operator is confirmed for the Cinema Place location.
Sandwich board photo courtesy of Elisa Claassen to Bellingham Metro News.
Article by Fernando Gonzalez.
The announcement made by Luna’s Bistro on their Facebook page. HERE
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