Monthly Archives: November 2013

Eight apply to sell recreational marijuana in Kitsap


Eight prospective retailers have applied for licenses to sell recreational marijuana in Kitsap County so far, according to an early list of applicants released by the state Liquor Control Board. Six of the applications are for Bremerton locations. Silverdale and Poulsbo each have one proposed shop.

Thirteen have applied to produce (grow) marijuana, and 13 have applied to process marijuana. Nearly all the applicants seeking producer licenses also applied for processing licenses, with a couple of exceptions. Producer and processor applications came from all over the county, including Bainbridge Island.

There is still plenty of time for prospective marijuana entrepreneurs to apply for licenses under the new I-502 rules. The 30-day application period opened Nov. 20.

The Liquor Control Board will allow up to 10 retail stores in Kitsap. Competition will be stiff in Bremerton, where only two locations can be approved within city limits.

Here are the Kitsap retail applicants thus far (click here to view them in an interactive map):

  • C&C Shop LLC, 1107 N. Callow Ave. Suite B, Bremerton
  • Emerald Coast, 4020 Wheaton Way, Suite M, Bremerton
  • Evergreen Bud Depot, 1405 NE McWilliams Road, Suite 103, Bremerton
  • Got Pot Shop, 6710 Kitsap Way, Unit B, Bremerton
  • Greenlife, 9119 Ridgetop Blvd. NW, Silverdale
  • Northwest Health Alliance, 1405 NE McWilliams Road, Suite 103
  • Poulsbo Haze, 19568 Viking Ave. NW, Poulsbo
  • Sol Good Cannabis, 1500 Riddell Road, Bremerton

And here are the producer and processor applicants (most applied for both): Continue reading →

Triton Marine to lease Port of Bremerton property

Chico-based Triton Marine Construction is securing new digs at the Port of Bremerton.

The port is expected to approve a lease agreement with the company Tuesday on a 12,000-square-foot building and 1.3-acre yard in the Olympic View Industrial Park. Rent is $6,246 per month, according to the draft agreement included in the agenda packet for the Tuesday port commission meeting.

The five-year lease is set to begin Jan. 1.

The port will complete a $50,000 HVAC installation at the building. Triton plans to add more office space, and grade a portion of the yard. The company will employ 15-20 people at the site, according to the agenda summary.

Triton Marine relocated from Houston to Kitsap in 1999, according to its website. It employs up to 150 full-time personnel. The company specializes in government marine construction projects, and recently landed a $35.5 million Navy contract.

 

Zero Gravity Athletics finds new home in Silverdale

239379_t607Zero Gravity Athletics is setting up shop in Silverdale, after an eviction forced the gym out of Poulsbo earlier this month.

Owner Kenda Moreno said the business is relocating to a 15,000-square-foot space at 2789 NW Randall Way. She wanted to keep the gym in North Kitsap, but wasn’t able to secure a lease she said. Her main priority was getting the doors open again. The competitive gymnastics season is already underway.

“Our kids are excited,” Moreno said. “And hopefully we’ll get some new Silverdale clients.”

Zero Gravity’s teams are already practicing in the new location. Classes will resume Dec. 1. North Kitsap School District is no longer contracting with the gym for facilities for its gymnastics programs, Moreno said.

Zero Gravity is sharing a complex with Castle Megastore – an adult “boutique.” Moreno admits the pairing isn’t ideal, but she was left with few options and believes the new location will be successful.

For updates, see the Zero Gravity page on Facebook.

 

 

Mobile Healthplanfinder rolls into Bremerton Thursday

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Washington Healthplanfinder went mobile this fall and its next stop is Bremerton.

A custom Healthplanfinder truck and trailer will roll onto the Olympic College campus Thursday. Assisters from Kitsap Public Health District will be on hand to answer questions about the health insurance plans offered through the Washington exchange. Attendees can peruse plans and sign up for coverage using laptops provided in the trailer.

The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1395 Broadway, between the student center and engineering rotunda.

A report released by Healthplanfinder last week showed nearly 2,000 Kitsap residents enrolled in plans through the exchange in October. Washington’s exchange has enjoyed good press lately, due to strong enrollment numbers and dysfunction in other insurance marketplaces.

Photo: @WAPlanfinder

Global Entrepreneurship Week events start today

Attracting tourists, wooing movie biz and navigating government contracts are a few of the topics to be discussed at Global Entrepreneurship Week events around Kitsap.

The local iteration of the “world’s largest celebration of the innovators and job creators” begins Monday afternoon and continues through Friday at locations around the county. The Kitsap Economic Development Alliance coordinated the discussion series.

Visit the KEDA website for more information, or check out the flyer below:

GEW Flyer Final 10-11-13 by tsooter

Nearly 2,000 in Kitsap enrolled through state health care exchange

Nearly 2,000 Kitsap County residents enrolled in health care insurance through the state’s Healthplanfinder in October, according to a report released Friday.

The vast majority – 1,754 – qualified for Medicaid plans. Another 181 enrollees qualified for tax credits, while 51 did not. Kitsap ranked ninth among Washington counties for enrollment, accounting for 3.4 percent of the 57,000 Washingtonians who enrolled in October.

The enrollment numbers will change rapidly. About 150,000 people statewide have either enrolled in coverage, completed application that is awaiting payment or started an application.

You can read the full report for October here (PDF).

Here’s the AP story on the report.

Comcast expanding commercial broadband in Kitsap

Silverdale_Const__008Comcast Business is extending its high-speed broadband network to cover “underserved commercial areas” of Kitsap County, beginning with Silverdale.

The company will expand commercial Internet and Ethernet service in areas surrounding Silverdale Way NW, NW Myhre Road and Bucklin Hill Road this fall and winter, according to a news release. Expansion elsewhere in Kitsap will continue next year.

The project will connect specific businesses that have requested service and extend the network along right-of-ways to meet future demand, according to the release.

Submitted photo

Butcher plans a gastronomical British Invasion

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As I noted in today’s business spotlight, the new Proper British Bacon in Port Orchard is the first franchised offshoot of the original butcher shop in Auburn. Founder Robin Halbert expects it won’t be the last.

Halbert said he plans to establish several more franchises in the Puget Sound area if the South Kitsap enterprise proves successful. He has his eye on Bellevue and North Seattle as possible locations. Port Orchard store owner Meri Blaisdell suggested Poulsbo, with its European theme, could be a good fit for a Proper British Bacon.

About 25 percent of the customers who frequent the Auburn location are British expats, Halbert said.  The shop has an especially strong following among Microsoft employees and makes regular deliveries to the  Redmond campus.

Halbert is already seeking U.S. Department of Agriculture certification to sell Proper British Bacon branded products in supermarkets.

Above: Marion Hamblin inspects the offering at Proper British Bacon in Port Orchard. (Larry Steagall photo)

 

New owners for Keyport steakhouse

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Whiskey Creek Steakhouse is no stranger to change.

The Keyport restaurant underwent an “impossible” reality TV makeover in 2012, undid the damage from that makeover a few months later, and moved across the street.

Now Whiskey Creek is changing hands. Longtime owners Pat and Karan Ziarnik are retiring and turning the operation over to employees Jon and Brandi Trunnell.

The restaurant will reopen Nov. 18, according to an email from the Trunnells. They plan to revamp Whiskey Creek’s lunch and dinner menus, and add a new happy hour. The restaurant will also open seven days a week, instead of five.

Watch for updates on Whiskey Creek’s page on Facebook.