Here’s what Lighthouse Mission plans to do with the Willows Inn restaurant

The nationally known Willows Inn restaurant on Lummi Island has officially closed and the property is being donated to Bellingham nonprofit Lighthouse Mission Ministries, an organization working to end homelessness in Whatcom County.

The restaurant has been recognized as one of the best restaurants in the country and has also settled lawsuits in recent years relating to allegations of underpaying staff. The restaurant management has also been accused by staff of sexual harassment and racism.

So what will now become of the property?

“Unless somebody drops an additional $10 million in our lap right now, we’re likely going to sell that property on Lummi Island,” said Lighthouse Mission Ministries president and CEO Hans Erchinger-Davis in a telephone interview with The Bellingham Herald.

Lighthouse Mission is in the middle of a $25 million campaign and project to demolish its old Holly Street building in Bellingham and rebuild a new services center on the same lot.

Much of the funding for that project still needs to be raised and selling the Willows Inn restaurant could help contribute significantly to Lighthouse Mission’s new facility.

“Our hope is that people see the story of redemption in this because the restaurant has had a bit of a checkered history. It’s going to such a good cause to help people that have nothing,” Erchinger-Davis told The Herald.

An evaluation of the Willows Inn restaurant property is being done right now. The 2022 assessed valuations of the properties at 2579 W. Shore Drive and 2560 W. Shore Drive is $2.04 million.

“This is a powerful story of human need and people that see it and want to help. (Tim and Marcia McEvoy of Bellingham, owners of The Willows Inn on Lummi Island) were willing to donate one of the top restaurants in the world to help realize this cutting-edge plan to take care of homelessness in Whatcom County,” Erchinger-Davis said.