It’s been three weeks since the Hood Canal Bridge was closed for six weeks, and Jefferson County businesses say they are noticing a difference — and some of the news is good.
“If you come through Quilcene and stop in to the businesses, you will see that some of them are quite busy,” said Lisa Hames, manager of Quilcene U.S. Bank and past president of the Quilcene/Brinnon Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s very similar to when the bridge sank decades ago. It’s been very good for this area.”
Huge boost
Hames won’t go as far as to say she wants the bridge to remain closed — it’s expected to open in mid-June after work to replace the east half is finished — but she does admit that it’s been a huge boost to have U.S. Highway 101 as the only land entrance to the North Olympic Peninsula.
“Our area has a chance to be discovered,” she said.
“People are getting a chance to come through and see what we have to offer” — shops, hometown restaurants and forested real estate near the water of Dabob and Quilcene bays.
“We haven’t seen the real estate bump yet,” Hames said.
“But I expect that might be coming.”
U.S. Highway 101 rolls directly through Brinnon and Quilcene and serves as the main road for both communities.
While increased traffic means longer commutes across town, business owners aren’t complaining.
Melody Bacchus, owner of the Twana Roadhouse restaurant, said she has seen business jump since the bridge closure.
“It’s definitely up,” she said, “at least 20 percent higher than normal. It was a slow winter, so to have this extra boost has been wonderful.”
Bacchus said most people who stop don’t complain too much about the drive.
“They are always looking to use the restrooms, though,” she said. “There aren’t too many of them along this stretch.”
Also sparse in the area are gas stations. The Brinnon General Store/Tesoro Station is the only station between Eldon to the south and Beaver Valley to the north.
Selling more gas
Pam Tyler, an employee at the station, said it has been busy.
“We’re definitely selling a lot more gas,” she said.
“Without a doubt, we’ve seen business increase here, both at the station and inside the store.
“By how much I’m not sure, but it’s been noticeable.”
Kelly Beringer, manager of the station, said gas sales have gone up by at least 30 percent.
“It’s been a large increase,” he said.
“I don’t want to say it’s all been the bridge, because shrimping season just started as well, but no doubt the bridge being down has helped us.”
Port Townsend
Meanwhile, in Port Townsend, business owners are saying the closure hasn’t been so bad.
“It seems that people are holding their own on the business front,” said Mari Mullen, director of Port Townsend Main Street.
“The Rhododendron Festival was a great boost, and the weather has obviously helped us out.
“But I think people that are marketing themselves more are really seeing results on that front.”
Main Street has worked with the city of Port Townsend on an advertising campaign to get people visiting from southern cities such as Olympia and Portland.
“People are still getting here,” Mullen said, “but I also think people are seeing more traffic because of the locals staying here.”
Melissa Davis, manager of Baddhabit clothing company, said she agrees that the locals staying in town has helped business.
“I’ve been saying since the very beginning that I thought this would be a positive thing,” Davis said.
“As much as it stops people from coming here, it also stops people from leaving.”
Davis said her instincts were spot-on, as she has seen the business boom in the last month.
“We’re actually doing better at this point now than we were last year,” she said.
“We have plenty of new clients coming our way and several new clients from the Peninsula.
“We’re excited right now because the bridge has not negatively affected this business one bit.”
And while not every business is booming, most in Jefferson County seem to be weathering the closure.
“It’s not too bad,” said Judy Rich, manager of The Green Eyeshade kitchen supply store.
“We’ve seen a lot of local customers coming in the last few weeks.
“I’m not going to lie, we’ve seen a small dip, but it really hasn’t been too bad.”
Rich said the bottom line was that they were going to make it without any worries.
“We’re here while the bridge is closed,” she said, “And we’ll still be here when it reopens.”
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
