||| FROM KING-TV SEATTLE |||
Thursday [was] the first day of summer, but [it was] also the last day for one Starbucks location along the Bremerton Ferry Terminal.
One small business owner nearby told us that Starbucks is one of many businesses that have closed near the Bremerton dock in the last few years.
“A lot of the pedestrian traffic has slowed down,” said Mary Jo Rose, co-owner of South Pacific Sports Bar, just steps from the ferry on First Street.
The Washington State Ferry System isn’t what it used to be. Last month, KING 5 reported that 38 elected leaders even sent a letter to Congress saying the ferry system is “in crisis,” with just 15 boats when 26 are needed.
The Bremerton-Seattle route was reduced from two boats to one boat at the start of the pandemic. But in the years since, service has never been fully restored. The ferry system has suffered from ongoing issues related to staffing shortages and aging vessels.
“Let’s say a decade ago, so many more people walking through here,” said Rose. “A lot of them will stop and have one or two beers, and then they would catch a ferry and then go home.”
South Pacific Sports Bar has been in business on First Street for about 23 years, serving cocktails and food, including burgers, poutine and steak salads. But for a business that depends on daily commuters, their customers– and their revenue– have been at the mercy of a struggling ferry system.
“Now you see them just going by,” she said of commuters. “They know they’ve got to catch a ferry. And if they’re not there in line soon enough, they’re not going to make the boat that’s there.”
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
