Bellingham is a predominantly white city, but it’s lucky to be home to notable Black-owned businesses from various industries.
As populations of minority racial groups grow each year, minority-owned businesses also contribute more to the U.S. economy. By 2060, their contributions to the U.S. GDP are expected to triple, less than how much white-owned businesses’ contributions are expected to grow, per the Minority Business Development Agency.
It’s harder to start a business as a person of color, as those businesses are less likely to be financed, according to a 2023 report by the Federal Reserve Bank.
Three Black-owned businesses in Bellingham agreed to share their stories.
MJ’s Martini Bar
Siblings Maurice Christion and Jenna Hansen opened MJ’s Martini Bar on Oct. 10, 2025, taking the place of Fireside Martini & Wine Bar at 416 W. Bakerview Road.
They always wanted to start a business, so when the space opened up, they knew it would be perfect for them. They’re excited to continue a familiar atmosphere where guests can feel comfortable, complete with karaoke, live music and art from local artists.
One significant change is the dinner menu they put together, which customers appreciate. It’s full of dips, sliders, flatbread and pies.
John and Debbie Pianki, who used to go to Fireside, each tried new drinks during their first time at MJ’s, with John Pianki ordering a chocolate old-fashioned and Debbie Pianki sipping on a grapefruit martini. They both liked it and said they plan to return.
Christion and Hansen hope to start a franchise of three total MJ’s, with the hopes that the next one will be located further north.
Kulture Kleaning Services
While working as a caregiver, Tomash Jones was taking out a client’s trash when he saw that their bin was filled with maggots. He tried to find a business nearby that would come to someone’s home and clean their trash bins in an environmentally friendly way, but he couldn’t find any.
After getting feedback from over 2,000 people in the community who said they would use a bin cleaning service, he started Kulture Kleaning Services with his uncle, Vincent Jones. It launched on June 19, 2024.
It focuses on sustainable cleaning practices by filtering and reusing the water it cleans, simultaneously preventing dirt and debris from going down drains. Its trailer filters the water 17 times, which Tomash Jones said catches dirt down to 5 microns. The diameter of human hair is about 70 microns, for scale.
“We got the Cadillac of cleaning equipment,” Vincent Jones said.
Kulture Kleaning Services mainly helps residential areas, but it has the capacity to clean businesses such as Woods Coffee, one of their clients. In addition to trash bin and dumpster cleaning, it also provides services like pressure washing, lawn watering, house cleaning and post-construction cleanup.
The Muljat Group
Kena Greer Brashear is the first Black woman to own a real estate firm in Whatcom and Skagit counties, as well as the first designated broker. She became the owner of The Muljat Group, located at 510 Lakeway Drive, in 2023, following Troy Muljat and his late father, Frank Muljat, who founded the firm in 1989.
“(Frank Muljat) always supported me and everything that I did, and treated me like a daughter. He was a great mentor,” Brashear said.
She is proud to carry on Frank Muljat’s legacy and run the firm in a way that would honor him.
Brashear loves to take beginner brokers under her wing and help people build their businesses. One broker was a basketball trainer who expressed some interest in pursuing real estate, and after some encouragement from Brashear, he ended up being one of the top producers at The Muljat Group in his first year.
“I’m the proud mom of everybody who works here, no matter how old they are,” Brashear said.
Black-owned businesses everywhere boost the economy and promote a sense of belonging. Supporting diverse business owners is important to build up the community.
Noelle Reger (she/her) is a second-year journalism student and city life reporter for The Front this quarter. When she's not reading or writing, she can usually be found gambling at the claw machines in Sharetea. You can reach her at noellereger.thefront@gmail.com.
