In a bid to win back Canadian shoppers, some retailers at a Washington State mall will be accepting the loonie at par this weekend.

Located just south of the border in Bellingham, Bellis Fair Mall isn't the shopping destination it once was. The mall used to be a popular spot for Canadian tourists, but with the loonie hovering at a meagre 76 cents compared to the Greenback, retailers are beginning to feel the pinch.

The mall is trying to lure shoppers back down south with a promotion offering to accept the loonie on par on Canadian long weekends. And the town's chamber of commerce president expects other businesses will follow the mall's lead.

"It's not a comprehensive Bellingham program, but I do suspect a number of other mall retailers and other local retailers that aren't at the mall to follow suit," Guy Occhiogrosso told CTV News earlier this month.

Occhiogrosso said the dip in the dollar value is directly proportionate to the dip in Canadian tourism.

"With a 20 to 25 per cent discrepancy in the exchange rate, that equates to a 20 to 25 per cent drop in southbound trips by Canadians," he said.

"And that correlates to a 20 to 25 per cent drop in spending by Canadians."

Another chamber of commerce member Greg Boos told CTV News Channel that the incentive is likely to benefit other parts of the town as well.

"We're going to have a greater number of Canadian shoppers at the mall and elsewhere and in addition many of them will decide to stay overnight, they'll book hotel rooms and eat at local restaurants. It's going to be a win-win, the shoppers will get more bang for their buck and Bellingham will get a shot in the arm," Boos said.

Some area hotels are also offering a deal for Canadians, knocking 25 per cent off the price of a room.

The offer is only for long weekends, and only applies to participating retailers. More than a dozen stores and restaurants have signed up, but retailers do have the option to opt out of the initiative.

Those planning to head south for the weekend can expect long lines at the malls and the border. The Canada Border Service Agency would not say whether additional staff had been brought in to help with crowds, but told CTV that the agency is "ready."

With a report from CTV Vancouver's Penny Daflos