Bavarian Bulletin - February 17, 2026 Edition

The Bavarian Bulletin

The Bavarian Bulletin will now be distributed on Tuesdays to better align with the release of our weekly footfall report.

THE NEW WILLKOMMEN CENTER IS OPEN

On Saturday, February 14th the new Willkommen Center opened in the Tannenbaum Building. Once owned by Bob Rodgers and Ted Price, the visionaries behind the Bavarian transformation of Leavenworth, it was one of the first six buildings to adopt the Bavarian Theme in 1965. Also home to Bob and Ted’s Tannenbaum Gift Shop, this location holds a special place in the history of Leavenworth.

In 2024 the previous center greeted over 78,000 visitors, making it one of the most visited in the State. The new Willkommen Center represents the Chamber doubling down on the responsibility of serving our tourism economy by providing a location that is better integrated with the village, easily identifiable, and more convenient for our visitors and members.

This vision for the new center was crafted by Todd Smith and Syndicate Smith who merged Old World Bavarian charm with the needs of a modern visitor center. They envisioned the space to be warm, familiar, inviting, and evoking the feeling of arriving home.

The three massive beams installed by contractor Rimmer & Roeter were not only part of the remodel, but also an intentional act of preservation. Due to the weight of the roofline added in the 60's, a nearly 6” dip in the center of the building had been created over time. The new beams have now redistributed the weight to the exterior walls and have greatly extended the building’s life span. From leveling the floors to the craftsmanship throughout, their attention to detail is unsurpassed and we are overjoyed with the results.

Leavenworth Chamber Administrative Offices

What is happening to the old Visitor Center space?

Previously, the Chamber rented the adjacent office space to house its Bavarian clothing collection, a meeting room, and offices for the Director of Marketing and Executive Director.

With the transition to the new Welcome Center downtown, the former Visitor Center space will now serve as the Chamber’s Administrative Office. It will provide offices for administrative staff, storage for the Bavarian Closet, and a dedicated meeting space.

While the office will remain accessible to members who need assistance, it will no longer be open to the general public. Updated exterior signage is currently in production to reflect the change.

RSVP for the March 5th- Annual Chamber Banquet

Join us on March 5th for the Leavenworth Chamber Annual Banquet at the Icicle Village Resort.

This special evening brings our business community together to celebrate the year behind us and the opportunities ahead.

Dinner is $75 per person and includes salad, rolls, and your choice of three exceptional entrées:

Grilled Beef Tenderloin with red-wine demi-glace
Cedar Planked Roasted Wild Salmon with white truffle & corn béchamel
Butternut Squash Risotto (vegetarian)

And choice of two delicious desserts:

Royal Lemon Torte
Flourless Chocolate Torte

A no-host bar will be available featuring mixed drinks, wine, cider, and beer.

Please RSVP here to reserve your seat(s). Kindly reply with your total number of guests, first and last name of all guests and corresponding entrée and dessert selections. Table capacity is eight, RSVP for the number in your party.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Free Desks Available!

We have two free desks available to give, these are 6ft wide x 3 ft deep x 29" high. Each has a pull out keyboard. We would like these rehomed by the end of the week if possible! Please call us at (509) 548-5807 or stop by the Chamber Administrative Offices! (940 Highway 2, Suite B).

REMINDER: February Love from Leavenworth Promotions!

Week Three of Shop Your Little Heart Out in Leavenworth

To help encourage midweek retail traffic, this promotion runs on Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout February.

Guests who spend $100 or more at participating retailers (receipts may be combined across stores) can redeem a hand-sculpted glass heart at the Visitor/Willkommen Center while supplies last. Participants are also entered to win weekly prizes.

Footfalls

Week 5, 2026. 02 Feb 2026 - 08 Feb 2026

Footfalls

Week 6, 2026. 09 Feb 2026 - 15 Feb 2026

Highway 2 Reopens and 2026 YTD Footfall

We are happy to report that with Highway 2 reopened this past weekend, it was the first weekend to top the previous year's footfalls. We hope it's a trend!