The Woods Coffee chain will open its 13th Whatcom County location on Lakeway Drive in Bellingham, in the building formerly home to the Lychee Buffet.

After substantial renovation, including construction of a drive-through window on the building’s eastern side, the new location should open in October.

The Lynden-based coffee chain was founded by the Herman family in 2002.

The building on Lakeway Drive has been vacant since the Lychee Buffet closed last year. In the past, the location has also served as a Pizza Hut. Prior to that, it was originally home to Sambo’s restaurant.

In a press release, Woods Coffee owner Wes Herman said he expects a high volume of traffic at the new spot—located just off of Interstate 5 next to the GuestHouse Inn and across the street from the Lakeway Fred Meyer. The company said it plans to hire a number of new employees for the location prior to opening.

“Given the traffic patterns in the area, this could be one of the busiest coffee sites in Whatcom County,” Herman said. “After all, in many ways, this is the entrance to the city center, and we’re excited to be a part of that.”

The new shop will be in the eastern portion of the building. The other 2,200 square feet of the building will be available for a second tenant.

The company said it is in talks with several potential tenants to move in, but did not give details.

Woods Coffee has also started construction on another new location at the site of the new 16-screen movie theater in Bellingham’s Barkley Village. The company expects that shop to be complete by November.

The coffee company can be reached at 360-933-1855.