Help the Staff of Harris Ave Cafe & The Old Indy

At 11:57 p.m. on Saturday night, Bellingham Fire Department responded to a two-alarm commercial fire in the historic Terminal Building, one of the oldest buildings in Fairhaven. At this point, we know very little, and we ask you to respect our privacy while we grieve and pick up the pieces of our lost livelihood.

My name is Jackson, and I am the general manager of Harris Avenue Cafe/The Old Independent. I started working at Harris in 2015 when I first moved to Bellingham. This restaurant and its staff have supported and nurtured me for the last eight years. Our cafe and coffee shop have served as a hub for community members to gather, celebrate milestones, eat delicious food, and find comfort for over three decades. As we continue to process this tragedy, we look to you, our loving community, for guidance and support on how to move forward together. Fundraising for the staff feels like a concrete place to begin.

What we do know is that the damage is substantial. There are now twenty employees who are suddenly without work in the middle of the holiday season. Some of these workers are part time and may not qualify for unemployment.

We are requesting the community help us raise $70,000 to cover lost wages for our employees for the coming weeks. After fees, the ~$67,900 would be distributed equally among the 20 employees for around $3,395 a person. We are aiming for this amount to be able to cover rent, utilities, food, and other basic needs for 1-2 months while our employees recoup and begin to look for work elsewhere. Of course, anything helps, and any funds raised will be distributed equally among staff. We know people want answers and we will continue to update this page with ways members of the community can help the staff. Thank you for giving us the time, space, and support we need as we grieve the loss of our beloved cafe and coffee shop.