A Facebook page called “Bellingham Costco needs a special time just for Americans” has been bombarded with debate and sometimes vicious comments from people on both sides of the border.
The page was created by a group of people who say they’re frustrated by Canadian shoppers taking up a lot of parking space, creating huge lineups at registers and in gas lines, and cleaning stores out of things like milk.
Bellingham Whatcom chamber of commerce president Ken Oplinger says the chamber is opposed to the very existence of the page, and says Bellingham businesses welcome Canadian shoppers.
“Not just the direct benefits of those dollars being spent, but the sales tax that’s generated from that, that stays right here in our community. It pays for police and fire and parks…those are all things that they benefit from, and they understand that Canadians here doing their shopping are helping to make that happen.”
One of the statements on the page claims that laws prevent the Costco from expanding and says it’s just too much of a zoo.
However Oplinger says restrictions on retail space were lifted a few years ago.