Darrington businesses are ready to be ‘mobbed’

DARRINGTON — Business leaders from the other side of Snohomish County plan to bombard Darrington shops, restaurants and breweries with their first ever “Chamber Mob” on Friday afternoon.

Modeled after a cash mob, where participants flock to spend money at a local business in need, the Chamber Mob is geared toward bolstering Darrington businesses after the March 22 Oso mudslide that took 43 lives and buried a stretch Highway 530 between Arlington and Darrington.

The highway is open and the weather has been sunny, but it’s still a tough time for businesses in Darrington, said Monroe Chamber of Commerce Director Una Wirkebau-Hartt, who worked with Darrington business owners to coordinate the Chamber Mob.

“They’re healing and we want to help them heal,” she said “We still understand they’re going through a hard time and it can take a long time for things to get better.”

Darrington’s economic development has been a focus for local and state leaders after the mudslide. A state-funded advertising campaign is promoting local festivals and outdoor recreation opportunities in the Stillaguamish Valley.

Wirkebau-Hartt said chamber members on the east side of Snohomish County wanted to find a way to help. She and former chamber director Annique Bennett, who is currently working for Snohomish County to promote tourism in Darrington, coined the term Chamber Mob and started recruiting. Wirkebau-Hartt invited people from Monroe, Sultan, Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Arlington and Granite Falls. As of Tuesday, 14 people had signed up to participate.

A bus is scheduled to leave Monroe around noon Friday, and a couple of seats are open, Wirkebau-Hartt said. People can contact her at director@monroewachamber.org or call 360-794-5488 to claim a seat. The group on the bus plans to remain in Darrington until about 8 p.m.

People also can drive to Darrington on their own. Anyone is welcome to join the mob between 2 and 8 p.m., she said.

Afternoon plans include a tour of the Oso Fire Department, eating lunches from the Darrington IGA at a local park, meeting with Mayor Dan Rankin and shopping at Darrington stores before settling in at a restaurant or brewery for dinner. There may be an opportunity for a mill tour, rafting trip, hike or a tour of downtown guided by Rankin, Wirkebau-Hartt said.

Darrington business owners know people are on the way and plan to be open extra hours if necessary, she said.

“The concept is we’ll go inundate the community, spend money and create a buzz while we’re up there,” Wirkebau-Hartt said.

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439, kbray@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Lynnwood
Crash in Lynnwood fully blocks Highway 99

The crash, on Highway 99 at 176th Street SW, fully blocked southbound lanes. Traffic was diverted to 168th Street SW.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett will welcome new CEO in June

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Kelli Littlejohn, who was 11 when her older sister Melissa Lee was murdered, speaks to a group of investigators and deputies to thank them for bringing closure to her family after over 30 years on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘She can rest in peace’: Jury convicts Bothell man in 1993 killing

Even after police arrested Alan Dean in 2020, it was unclear if he would stand trial. He was convicted Thursday in the murder of Melissa Lee, 15.

Ariel Garcia, 4, was last seen Wednesday morning in an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr. (Photo provided by Everett Police)
Search underway to find missing Everett child, 4

Ariel Garcia was last seen Wednesday morning at an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Drive.

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.