A Ferndale microbrewery has announced plans to open a new pub in downtown Bellingham, in the former location of Cicchitti’s Pizza at 1427 Railroad Ave.

The new pub will be called The Local, and will be operated by Menace Brewing of Ferndale, a brewery opened by Benjamin Buccarelli and Brandon Petersen in 2012.

The two, along with business partner Tom Rader, filed an application with the Washington State Liquor Control Board on July 9 to assume a license to sell beer and wine in a restaurant from the former operators of the Cicchitti’s Pizza, which closed its operations at the location in March of this year.

A “coming soon” sign has been posted in a front window of the Railroad Avenue tenant space, next to a public notice of the pending liquor license.

According to July 10 update on Menace Brewing’s Facebook page, The Local will offer a pub setting to showcase beers from Menace Brewing and other local breweries, with an emphasis on food and beer pairings. The announcement also says the company will maintain its brewing operations at its Ferndale facility, and the new Bellingham location could open within the next few months.

Evan Marczynski, staff reporter at The Bellingham Business Journal, can be reached at 360-647-8805, Ext. 5052, or evan@bbjtoday.com.