Bellingham Loses Woman-Owned Mexican Restaurant After 10 Years

The New Mexico Tamale Company is closing due to rising costs and declining revenue.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:12pm

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A high-end studio still life photograph featuring a stack of colorful handmade corn tortillas, a molcajete with freshly ground spices, and a small ceramic dish of vibrant salsa, all arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background with dramatic lighting and deep shadows.The vibrant ingredients and handcrafted details of the New Mexico Tamale Company's menu now sit silent, a bittersweet symbol of the restaurant's permanent closure.Bellingham Today

The New Mexico Tamale Company, a woman-owned Mexican restaurant that has been in business for 10 years in Bellingham, Washington, is permanently closing. The owner, Dora Ruiz, cited the COVID-19 pandemic as the 'toughest chapter' for the restaurant, but said rising costs and declining revenue ultimately made it impossible to continue operating.

Why it matters

The closure of the New Mexico Tamale Company represents the ongoing challenges facing small, independent restaurants in Bellingham and across the country, especially those that have weathered the pandemic. The loss of this community-focused, woman-owned business is a blow to the local dining scene.

The details

The New Mexico Tamale Company first opened in 2016 in Ferndale before moving to its location at 4151 Meridian St. in the Cordata Place shopping center in Bellingham. In a social media post, owner Dora Ruiz said the restaurant had become 'community, connection, and family' over the years, welcoming regulars and watching families grow. However, Ruiz said the 'rising costs and declining revenue made it impossible to continue' operating the business.

  • The New Mexico Tamale Company first opened in 2016 in Ferndale.
  • The restaurant moved to its Bellingham location in the Cordata Place shopping center.
  • Ruiz announced the permanent closure in an April 1, 2026 social media post.

The players

Dora Ruiz

The owner of the New Mexico Tamale Company, a woman-owned Mexican restaurant in Bellingham that is closing after 10 years in business.

New Mexico Tamale Company

A Mexican restaurant that operated in Bellingham, Washington for 10 years before closing due to rising costs and declining revenue.

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What they’re saying

“What started in 2016 in Ferndale became so much more than a restaurant — it became community, connection, and family. We watched families grow, welcomed strangers who became regulars, and built friendships we will carry forever.”

— Dora Ruiz, Owner, New Mexico Tamale Company

“Over time, rising costs and declining revenue made it impossible to continue. When I realized there was no longer enough to sustain the business and support local the way I always intended, I knew we were in trouble. Everything I did here was with purpose — to give back and pay it forward.”

— Dora Ruiz, Owner, New Mexico Tamale Company

“If I can leave one message: please continue to support your local businesses. Many are closer to closing than they appear, and they are the ones who give back to this community every day.”

— Dora Ruiz, Owner, New Mexico Tamale Company

The takeaway

The closure of the New Mexico Tamale Company highlights the ongoing challenges facing small, independent restaurants in Bellingham and across the country, especially those that have weathered the pandemic. The loss of this community-focused, woman-owned business is a blow to the local dining scene, and a reminder of the importance of supporting local establishments.