Category Archives: Retail

ARCO station and ampm store proposed in Poulsbo

An ARCO fuel station and ampm convenience store could join the Sonic Drive-In at the corner of Viking Avenue and Highway 305.

A site plan review application has been filed for a 3,180-square-foot store, a nine-pump service station and 1,152-square-foot car wash on the 2-acre site, according to a notice distributed by the city Friday.

The station would be served by two underground storage tanks courtesy of Connex (you can rent Connex boxes here). Plans include parking for 11 vehicles.

BP West Coast Products submitted the permit application for the 22003 Viking Ave. property.

The city will accept comments on the application through Dec. 23. See the full notice below for details.

Toy shop open in old Winslow Drug

Tad Sooter

A toy store is now open in the 290 Winslow Way space long home to Winslow Drug.

Calico Toy Shoppe, which had been located in Winslow Green, moved into the former pharmacy building late last month, adding a splash of color to the storefront:

Owner Elisabeth Dahl said the Winslow Way store is roughly double the size of the Calico’s Winslow Green space, giving the shop more room for toys and games.

Winslow Drug closed in May after 60 years in business.

You can see more photos of Calico’s new store on Facebook.

Poll: Where will you get your Christmas tree?

Tad Sooter

Kitsap residents have a bounty of options when it comes to picking a Christmas tree.

There are, of course, no shortage of stores and tree lots offering pre-cut firs, pines and spruces.

For families who want to harvest their own, the county home to more than 500 acres of planted Christmas trees, with U-cut farms dotted across the peninsula.

More adventurous tree hunters can buy a $5 permit from the Forest Service and make a foray into the Olympics.

So if a tree is part of your holiday tradition, where do you plan to get yours this this year? (Or where did you already grab one?)

Loading ...

If you need help finding a tree this year, the Kitsap Sun has a handy guide to u-cut farms and lots on the peninsula.

Photo by Larry Steagall. See a gallery of Larry’s Christmas tree shots here.

Poll: What are your Black Friday plans?

Tad Sooter

The National Retail Federation predicts more than 137 million Americans will shop during Thanksgiving weekend, topping last year’s retail frenzy.

But here in the newsroom the buildup to Black Friday has felt noticeably muted this fall.

Typically we’re inundated by press releases from retailers in November. E-mails pour in from big chain retailers touting extended hours and price-slashing sprees. Local shops give us friendly prods for coverage of Small Business Saturday. Online sellers send constant Cyber Monday reminders.

This year we’ve received a smattering of those promotions, but not the typical deluge. So we’re interested hearing your take on Black Friday.

Have the deals been hyped as much this year as in years past? Is shopping a part of your Thanksgiving week tradition? Do you have other ways you prefer to spend your post-turkey holiday?

Let us know by taking our poll (you can pick more than one answer) or dropping a comment below. And whatever your plans, have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Loading ...

Gas prices remain low for Thanksgiving travel

Tad Sooter

Drivers headed out of town for the holiday will pay a tad more for a tank of gas this year than they did last Thanksgiving.

A gallon of regular gasoline was selling for an average of $2.58 in Kitsap County on Monday, according to AAA. That was up slightly from an average of $2.46 on the same day of 2015.

Nationally, gas prices are still much lower this fall than they were just a couple of years ago:

Gas tends to cost less this time of year and an abundance of crude oil on the global market is helping keep retail prices in check.

AAA projects 43.5 million Americans will take road trips for Thanksgiving this week.

Create bar charts

ChocMo, High Spirits plan move to new Poulsbo building

Tad Sooter

Poulsbo’s ChocMo restaurant and High Spirits liquor store plan to move to a new building and expand next year.

The businesses will set up shop in a 28,000-square-foot commercial facility planned by the Crabtree and Ryan families on Eighth Avenue.

The building is expected to open in the fall of 2017, according to a news release.

ChocMo and High Spirits will be joined in the facility by a 180-seat restaurant called Crabtree kitchen + bar and a shared workspace center called Vibe Coworks.

The move will allow High Spirits to grow from 4,000 to 10,000 square feet.The store will add a growler-filling station, “beer cave,” and wine cellar, and plans to host classes and tastings.

A delivery service is being considered, according to the release.

ChocMo, which began as a chocolate shop in 2005, will offer breakfast, lunch, espresso and chocolate drinks. With added space to work in, ChocMo staff will start making chocolate from raw cocao beans.

Upstairs, Crabtree kitchen + bar will focus on connecting diners with locally-grown food, including fruits and vegetables cultivated onsite. Beef for the restaurant will be raised at the family’s Silver Creek Angus farm in Kingston, which currently supplies ChocMo.

Kitsap retail sales climbed 7 percent in second quarter

Tad Sooter

Taxable retail sales reached $1.03 billion in Kitsap in the second quarter of the year, an increase of 7.3 percent from the same period of 2015.

Sales grew at a slower rate than in previous quarters.

Kitsap enjoyed an 8 to 11 percent year-over-year increase in sales in each of the past five quarters, according to the Department of Revenue.

Retail trade sales (sales made by stores, dealerships and other businesses selling merchandise to consumers) totaled $550 million in Kitsap in the second quarter of 2016, up 7.4 percent from 2015.

Here’s a look at how second quarter sales in Kitsap compared with other Puget Sound counties:

Sales by industry

Major retail trade industries reporting increased sales included auto dealers and parts stores (up 14.3 percent), building and garden material suppliers (up 11.6 percent), drug and health stores (up 24.4 percent), and general merchandise stores (up 1 percent).

Outside of retail trade, construction climbed 13.3 percent and accommodations and food services rose 7.4 percent.

Here’s a full breakdown of sales by industry (click the full screen button so you won’t strain your eyeballs):

q.2.2016.retail by Tad Sooter on Scribd

Developer shares plans for Rolling Bay project

Tad Sooter

A Bainbridge developer plans to seek approval this fall for a project that will bring new homes, shops and a restaurant to the island’s Rolling Bay center.

Sunrise Square, which came before the city’s Design Review Board in 2015, will be located on Sunrise Drive, just north of the intersection with Valley Road.

Rolling Bay Land Co. owner Lisa Martin said she expects construction to begin by next summer, if permitting goes smoothly. The development could be ready for tenants in by early 2018.

Plans for Sunrise Square include 6,700 square feet of residential space (both detached homes and apartments), 4,100 square feet of commercial space and a 2,300-square-foot freestanding restaurant.

Martin and architect Russ Hamlet, who’ve teamed up on several eco-friendly projects, emphasized energy and water efficiency in the design of Sunrise Square.

Geothermal and solar systems will help offset the development’s energy needs, Martin said.

Buildings in Sunrise Square will feature vacuum toilets that use far less water than even low-flow toilets. Waste will be composted before it’s discharged into the development’s septic drain field.

The western portion of the 2-acre parcel will be left undeveloped as an open space meadow.

Rolling Bay Land Co. is seeking tenants for the future development. Leasing information and more designs are posted below.

Renderings courtesy Rolling Bay Land Co. and Studio Hamlet

Marijuana grow approved in Bremerton; SK retailers on the move

Tad Sooter

The state approved a marijuana grow Wednesday off Auto Center Boulevard in Bremerton.

Producer and processor United Western Green will be located in a warehouse at 111 Bruenn Ave., according to Liquor and Cannabis Board records.

United Western Green is the 16th producer/processor licensed in Kitsap County.

Retailers on the move

Marijuana retailers originally licensed in South Kitsap are shuffling locations this fall, perhaps seeking less crowded markets.

po-pot_-stores — Eight marijuana retailers were approved in the Port Orchard area. Now some are moving out. Click to enlarge.

The board recently approved an address change allowing 21+ Recreational Marijuana to hop from Bethel Road in Port Orchard to 3062 SW Hwy. 16, Suite A in Gorst.

Two other South Kitsap marijuana stores have applied to relocate to Silverdale.

Fillabong, which also operates a shop in Silverdale, already shifted its license from Mile Hill Drive to 3249 Perry Ave., just outside Bremerton limits.

Here’s my map of Kitsap marijuana businesses. I’ll update the new retail locations once they’re approved by the board:

Sierra Trading Post announces opening date in Silverdale

Tad Sooter

Sierra Trading Post will open its first Washington store at 8 a.m. Oct. 27 in The Trails at Silverdale shopping center.

The 17,000-square-foot store will offer a wide range of outdoor gear and apparel, according to a news release. Interactive kiosks will allow customers to search the retailer’s in-store and online inventory while shopping.

The store is handing out prizes customers in line early on Oct. 27 and will make a $5,000 donation to Seattle Adaptive Sports.

Sierra Trading Post is hiring full-time and part-time staff Silverdale store. Click here for details.

Central Kitsap is suddenly rich in sporting goods and outdoor stores. DICK’S Sporting Goods opened at Kitsap Mall last week, joining Big 5, REI and Sportsman’s Warehouse in Silverdale.