Dispatches from downtown

Here’s some slices of life from downtown Bremerton this week.

You’ll soon notice a new sign at Uptown Barbershop (above) where the business has shed its original “Acme” name. Kellie Quanrud, who’s owned it for the past year, said she had already agreed to change the original name due to the Acme barbershop they were once affiliated with on the Seattle side. Only now, that same Seattle barbershop wasn’t happy about the Bremerton barbershop keeping any part of “acme” in its name. So look for a sign change soon.

“At this point I think its best we go completely our own direction anyhow,” Quanrud told her Facebook fans. ” … We love and appreciate all of our customers and our regulars that pop in to just hang out with us! That is what a barbershop should be! Thanx for supporting your local shop and being patient with us through all these changes!”

Just down the street, more serious changes maybe in store at The RockIt Roost. Owner Chuck Mitchell is looking into transforming it into a pub and arcade. He told me he’s not sure if it will happen, but he’s trying to make it work. I’ll keep you posted.

Also nearby, you might have noticed Evergreen Trophies and Kitchen got a paint job. Joe Hudson told me they’ll soon have a new sign out front to complete the facade.

Work continues on an expansion of El Balcon, the popular El Salvadorian eatery on Pacific Avenue. I’m told they’ve got some hurdles to go but could be open in another slice of the Dietz Building by the end of the year.

Work on a $3.5 million overhaul of the Salvation Army continues downtown, near Park Avenue on Sixth Street. Tad Sooter has further details here.

You’ve probably seen Monday’s story about the new apartments going up at Park Avenue and Burwell Street. The $9 million project will get started this week.