Under new leadership and after months of remodeling, Dirty Dan Harris Steakhouse’s long-awaited reopening is scheduled for Jan. 4, 2026.
Located on 11th St. in Fairhaven, the restaurant sustained heavy smoke and water damage after the neighboring Terminal Building burned down in December 2023.
At the time of the fire, Steve Marandola had been working at Dirty Dan’s for three years in various roles, including manager. A restaurant industry veteran, Marandola helped build the restaurant’s cocktail offerings into a highlight of their service.
“From the moment I got here, I knew this was it,” Marandola said. “From the moment I started working here, I was wanting to buy it, you know, just make it mine.”
Just days before the fire, Marandola had teamed up with an investor and was planning to purchase the restaurant from its former owner. However, the catastrophic fire set that idea back by months.
Though the building that houses Dirty Dan’s was left standing after the fire, the internal damage put it out of business indefinitely amid insurance negotiations.
According to Marandola, crowdfunding and community support were invaluable in getting Dirty Dan’s employees back on their feet.
“I made sure every single person in here either had a job or was on their way to a job before I even looked for myself,” said Marandola. “It was very disruptive to their lives. So many people are a paycheck away from disaster.”
Two years later, Marandola and his business partner, Heather Everett, were able to purchase and remodel Dirty Dan’s. At the forefront of the reopening is a desire to give back to the community.
The night before the restaurant’s opening, Dirty Dan’s is planning a charity dinner benefitting Bellingham Food Bank, and plans to host crowd-pleasing events like live music and murder mystery dinners in the future.
The restaurant is also committed to carrying on the legacy of its namesake, Daniel “Dirty Dan” Harris, the founder of Fairhaven in 1883 and one of Bellingham’s most infamous historical figures.
Harris’s history can be traced through tall tales and various business dealings throughout his life, but a full biography had never been written until local author H. Leon Greene took an interest.
Exploring both factual and likely fictional accounts of Harris’s exploits, Greene’s biography is planned for an early Spring 2026 release in partnership with Village Books.
“He's painted as a happy Pied Piper that told tales on the beach in Fairhaven,” said Greene, “but he, unfortunately, got his name appropriately. He was quite a dirty old guy.”
Marandola plans to bring out archival photos from Harris’s life to decorate the restaurant.
“My favorite Dirty Dan story is that he sold weapons to two (Indigenous) tribes that were fighting with each other, and they both united to chase him out of the county,” said Marandola. “That, and the fact that he never really bathed until he got married.”
With an almost 50-year history, Dirty Dan’s was a favorite spot for many Bellingham residents, and excitement is building for the restaurant’s return.
“We loved going there for appetizers and to have a drink, and it was just cozy,” said Marsha Riek, a longtime Dirty Dan’s customer. “A good winter hangout. We were afraid they couldn't reopen.”
Optimistically, Marandola and the Dirty Dan’s team originally aimed for a fall opening, but several contractor delays have pushed the date later.
The restaurant plans to open with an updated and expanded menu, prioritizing fresh and local ingredients, and aims to serve food at an affordable price point.
“I'm under a lot of pressure to get the doors open,” said Marandola. “But I want to do it right.”
Sophia Jellinghaus (she/he/they) is a reporter on The Front's city life beat. A third-year visual journalism major and Spanish minor, this is their first quarter with The Front. When not tracking down sources or coming up with pitches, they like to relax with a video essay and a tall glass of root beer. You can reach them at sophiajellinghaus.thefront@gmail.com.
