Heading out to Ferndale under a purple sky, I wondered why I rarely come up here. Sure, I’ve seen incredible shows at Main Street Bar, and Hovander is gorgeous when the weather is right. Still, as a Bellingham resident, I’m rarely pulled north. I have a feeling District Brewing’s new location will change that.
District Brewing’s flagship is in Mount Vernon, but luckily for Whatcom County residents, the brewery opened up a Ferndale location in late 2022. Upon my arrival, Mark Shintaffer greets me with a welcoming smile, firm handshake, and the absolute gift of gab. Shintaffer, along with some smaller partners, is the owner and operator of District. He speaks warmly and sharply, stopping only to help employees with small issues regarding the jukebox. Small asides are made, giving you the impression that you’re now “in the know.” A true class act.
A Ferndale native and businessman through and through, Shintaffer tells me how his family started Sound Beverage Distributing about 75 years ago. All through his career promoting and selling beverages, he never lost his roots. Several of the patrons are neighbors, and some of the guys even went to high school with him.
Ferndale is known for its community, and to see it so tightly-knit in action is nothing but endearing. As a business, District’s goal is to give Ferndale residents a reason to stay close by for a night of entertainment and enjoy the town they already live in. As Shintaffer puts it, “Stop by. Your friends are already here!”
Of course, all the business sense in the world doesn’t make beer. Shintaffer was either prudent or lucky enough to enlist John Kochendorfer as his brewer. Kochendorfer worked at the famed Elysian Brew when it was bought by Annheuser-Busch, the largest brewing company in the U.S. People outside of the brewing industry might not know that, while we all encourage you to buy local, it takes a certified brew genius to work for Annheuser-Busch and consistently pump out the beer they desire. According to Shintaffer, Kochendorfer is a master of applying his professional training and creating local brews everyone loves.
And so, Kochendorfer makes some incredible beer. If your swill is IPA, they’ve got every shape and flavor: juicy, hazy, fresh hop, you name it. Something I admired about the beer culture at District is brewtenders don’t ask what style you like specifically; rather, they ask what kind of tastes you like. I was thoroughly impressed by their Scotch ale, preferring it to almost any other American Scotch ale I’ve had.
Shintaffer also speaks fondly of the concept of a “third space”, a concept put forth by Starbucks. The “third space” is a resting spot, an oasis between work and home. Ferndale’s District spot offers this in spades, and with an arcade to boot. Being an avid pinball enthusiast, I was pleasantly surprised with the modern machines presented. If pinball isn’t your thing, patrons can also enjoy games ranging from ping pong to pool, a Boxer Glove, and even board games.
All considered, Shintaffer goes above and beyond with creating his version of a “third space”– because I rarely encounter spaces quite like this. Between delicious brews, varied entertainment, and even a food menu featuring burgers and wings, this is a true community spot that avoids brewery cliches. If you’re searching for family-friend entertainment that goes beyond beer alone, District is just the locale. 2000 Main St., Ferndale, 360.392.0808, districtbrewco.com
