Two new dining concepts are coming to 1327 N. State St.: a breakfast cafe by day, and tequila bar by night. Red Star Taco Bar plans to welcome customers Oct. 15, whereas sister business Sweet Bay Cafe opens the following week.
The new space is Red Star’s third venture, preceded by locations in Seattle and Tacoma. The late-night spot is known for its nontraditional, eclectic taco menu and stellar tequila selection. Sweet Bay Cafe, by contrast, is an entirely new concept, serving breakfast classics and coffee from Seattle’s Lighthouse Coffee Roasters.
Although Red Star and Sweet Bay share a location, they feature separate hours, menus and even dining areas. After extensive remodels, co-owner Padraic Markle said the space at 1327 N. State St. will “feel and looks very different” in comparison to that of its former tenant, Jack’s BBQ. Additions include a brand-new bar, distinctive decor and even a wall separating the two eateries.
The Red Star side leans into the “dark and sexy” cocktail bar vibe, featuring onyx accents and tequila-themed decor. Its tongue-in-cheek menu will feature a range of American-style, “kitsch” tacos, including buffalo chicken, Philly cheesesteak and the classic “your mom’s taco” (ground beef in a hard shell). Red Star will also serve one-of-a-kind rotating tacos, like fried catfish or Korean short rib.
But while the tacos sound delicious, tequila is the true star of the show. Red Star offers additive-free tequilas from respected brands including Don Fulano, Arette and Fortaleza, all at an affordable price point. (Markle likes to think of their selection as “six to eight years of Mexican sunshine distilled into a glass.”)
Sweet Bay Cafe, by contrast, is bright and spacious, with no line of sight into Red Star. It features both a dining area and cafe space with wraparound seating that Krajewski describes as akin to a breakfast nook. The food is best described as “classics, well-made”: Think fried chicken and waffles, scrambles and low-country biscuits and gravy, plus several vegetarian options.
Both menus are under the helm of Chef Troy Krajewski, who began working with Red Star four years ago at its Fremont location. “I have a lot of background in my career in brunch programs, and so the opportunity of doing a breakfast space is very exciting for me — 4 a.m. wake-ups included,” he joked.
Krajewski moved to Bellingham specifically to open Red Star and Sweet Bay. Markle, however, has roots in Whatcom County: He’s a Western graduate and even worked at the ReStore and the now-closed Mexican restaurant Casa Que Pasa.
Other owners include Billy Beckett, Markle’s original business partner; Alecia Renshaw, who has worked with Markle and Beckett since Red Star’s first opening; and Gubio Duarte de Sousa, owner of Black Crow Carpentry and the builder responsible for carpentry in the new space. Markle said all partners involved in the new venture have been in the restaurant industry since adolescence.
“We’re not some private equity group that is just throwing money around,” he said. “We’re bootstrapping even this third operation because of the passion that we have for working in this industry, working with people.”
With both new endeavors, Krajewski said the team aims to “take a lot of care and be a part of the community” — whether that be through co-organizing block parties, selling local art or even hosting fundraisers. (Red Star’s first fundraiser is already being planned and will benefit the ReStore.)
“We live here. We plan on being here for the long term,” Markle said. “We love it here, and we very much intend to be a part of what Bellingham is.”
Red Star Taco is open 4 p.m. to midnight beginning Oct. 15. Hours are tentative and subject to change. Exact dates and times will be announced on Instagram (@redstartacobar). Both locations are currently hiring. Info: redstartacobar.com and sweetbaybellingham.com.
A previous version of this story misspelled Padraic Markle’s first name. The story was updated to reflect the changed at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 14, 2024. Cascadia Daily News regrets the error.
Cocoa Laney is CDN’s lifestyle editor; reach her at cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 128.
