Indian grocery markets in Bellingham offer more than just food and products: they give back to their neighbors and provide customers a feeling of home.
Twice a week, India Mart owner TJ Sekhon delivers fresh vegetables that cater to the South Asian palate like okra; eggplant varieties like Indian, Chinese and graffiti; Thai chilies and Indian cucumbers to the Bellingham Food Bank.
The Indian grocery store’s donation to the Bellingham Food Bank for the past seven months has helped many families in Bellingham eat three healthy meals a day.
“People need pristine vegetables, and these are core staples in Indian cooking,” Sekhon said. “The food is not going to waste. People are suffering; people are hurting in this economy.”
South Asians living in Whatcom County now don’t need to head to Canada for a taste of India — they can purchase specialty food and spices at three local Indian grocery stores.
Seva embodies the act of selfless service, or helping others without any expectation of reward or personal gain. Sekhon has applied the concept of seva to his business over the last year and a half.
“I believe in the hospitality model,” Sekhon said. “By opening a business in a community, we need to give back to that community. It goes beyond our service and what products we are offering — it’s what we can do to make Bellingham a better place to live.”
Sikhs believe in earning a living by honest means and sharing the fruits of their labor with others.
“In the Sikh religion, we need to learn something new every day,” said Palwinder Singh, whose family owns Intercontinental Foods in Bellingham. “My guru said we need to learn throughout our whole lives.”
Community hubs
Intercontinental Foods has operated in the Cordata neighborhood since 2016. The grocer sells fresh vegetables, Indian, Fijian and Pakistani products, bulk items like rice, ghee and spices, along with Indian cookware. A section of the store similar to 7-Eleven is filled with snacks and convenience store items, Palwinder Singh said.
Many customers are seeking out comfort food at Indian grocery stores to recapture nostalgia and memories from their childhood, said India Mart co-owner Jasmine Pannu. Some shoppers drop by Intercontinental Foods for their fresh sugarcane juice, a thirst-quenching drink popular in India.
India Mart, which opened its doors in January 2024, is located near I-5, Bellis Fair mall and the Singh Sabha gurdwara, or temple.
“India Mart is a warm, welcoming and inviting store,” Pannu said. “We are familiar with our customers.”
Some of India Mart’s elderly customers live within walking distance to the store, while some have mobility challenges, Pannu said. When it rains — as it often does in Bellingham — Pannu said she and Sekhon have driven customers home.
Selfless service in action
India Mart also gives customers a discount when they buy food to donate to several Whatcom County gurdwaras.
Neighbors and volunteers, or sevadars, often partake in the Sikh tradition of langar, a free community meal that welcomes everyone at the gurdwara. The food served during langar — including basmati rice, chickpeas, dal, lentils, saag and roti, or round flat bread — is always vegetarian so that everyone can eat together, traditionally on the floor of the gurdwara.
India Fiji Supermarket, in Ferndale since October 2024, has a selection of authentic Indian and Fijian products. An increasing number of Indian families live near Portal Way in Ferndale.
Both India Mart and India Fiji Supermarket accept EBT, or electronic benefits transfer, as both stores are committed to all customers accessing fresh groceries and personal care products.
“We try to find products that meet all different price points as our customers have a wide variety of income levels,” Pannu said. “We want to have something for everyone.”
Supporting local businesses
Before COVID-19, most Punjabis preferred to shop across the border in British Columbia due to its huge Punjabi population, said Tarnjot Singh Brar, a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker Bain in Bellingham. He is also a liaison with the Punjabi American community for the Chardi Kala Project, a community outreach and service effort on behalf of Whatcom County Sikhs.
“There are a lot more stores in Surrey, B.C., and everything is easily available,” Brar said.
When the U.S.-Canada border shut down in the early 2020s, this forced people to shop closer to home, Brar said.
“It is very convenient having ethnic food available locally,” Brar said. “You can make a trip to the Indian grocery store on your way to work or during your lunch break.”
An increasing number of Sikhs and Punjabis have moved to Whatcom and Skagit counties in the past several years, Brar said. Whatcom County is now home to between 5,000–8,000 Sikhs, according to the Chardi Kala Project.
Many Sikhs and Punjabis who have relocated to Whatcom County in recent years have relatives in the metro Vancouver area, Singh said.
“Indian grocery stores in Whatcom County also represent its increasing Indian population and the prosperity of the community,” Brar said.
Currently, with the uncertainties of crossing the border and tariff threats from the Trump administration, many locals now prefer shopping at Indian supermarkets in Whatcom County, Brar said. Whatcom County’s elderly population, who may face challenges crossing the border because of language barriers, can now buy products they enjoy in their neighborhood.
Adventurous foodies
Bellingham also has a growing population of people who do not have an Indian background, but they are curious about Indian cuisine, Pannu said.
“They’ve had a taste of Indian food, they’ve gone across the border, and there are some fantastic restaurants in town,” she said. “Then they wonder — how do I make this at home?”
India Mart stocks a wide selection of curries, samosas, sweets and teas, as well as various types of dosas, naan, parathas and gluten-free bread, Pannu said. The store aims to accommodate as many dietary restrictions as possible.
“We try to be customer centric in procuring whatever we can that we know people would like,” she said.
With a wide variety of ready-to-eat microwaveable foods available at the Bellingham Indian grocery stores, now everyone can try the taste of Indian food in the comfort of their home without needing to learn complex recipes, Brar said.
“More and more people in Bellingham are discovering the wonder of our Indian grocery stores,” said Kamalla Kaur Whitley, director of the Chardi Kala Project. “One great feature of both India Mart and Intercontinental Foods is that not only can you get everything you need to cook Indian cuisine, it is a wonderful and affordable place to shop for all sorts of food.”
Whitley said she recently spent $50 to stock up on dried legumes and rice; both long-lasting pantry staples.
“I came home with enough inexpensive protein food to last for a year or more of daily use,” Whitley said. “Most of the beans are cut into small pieces that don’t need to be soaked for hours. They cook up quickly.”
Many Whatcom County residents, Western Washington University and Whatcom Community College students and their parents and Canadians often wander into Indian grocery stores in Bellingham and then leave with bags of groceries and a new appreciation of shopping local and supporting small businesses.
“Browsing through the shelves of prepared sauces, frozen food, sweets, vegetables and spices is fascinating,” Whitley said. “India Mart and Intercontinental Foods make it very easy and fun to try out delicious new tastes.”
— By Catherine Skrzypinski
Also read in Salish Current:
• “On the front line of food insecurity,” May 9, 2025
• “Vaisakhi celebration draws cross-border crowd,” April 28, 2025
• “Sikh community’s worship and gatherings are open to all,” March 4, 2024
• “With hard-earned acceptance, Sikh community flourishes on both sides of border,” June 23, 2023
• “East Asian markets bridge cultural gaps—through food,” Nov. 22, 2022