Business

Gig Harbor Now reporters provide information about where people can eat, shop and seek professional services, which businesses are opening or closing, and explain local trends and their relation to the national economy.

Short-term rentals grew slowly in first year under new regulations, Gig Harbor officials say

Apr 15, 2024 | By:

Could it be that after an 18-month moratorium on new short-term rentals (STRs) in Gig Harbor, a sometimes acrimonious public debate on the topic, and a full year of these lodgings operating under new rules that seemed to satisfy neither critics nor proponents, the city’s STR businesses are growing at a slow to moderate pace

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In the Margins | Crew School provides a reality sea trial for commercial fishing wanabees

Apr 10, 2024 | By:

During decades as a desk-jockey, I moved words and numbers around on various glowing screens. I often longed for work beyond the confines of the cubicle. You know — honest, hard work that allows for physical achievements, hand-made results, and liberal use of Advil. After weekends of amateur landscaping, crude carpentry, or bloody-knuckled attempts at

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Gig Harbor Real Estate | Home prices hit a new record

Apr 10, 2024 | By: Alison Paoli

The Gig Harbor real estate market was hot in March, marked by significant milestones and notable trends. According to data from the NWMLS, the median sale price of a single-family home between the Purdy and Narrows Bridges, including Fox Island, soared to a record high of $870,000 in March, underscoring the continued resilience of the

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Harbor Farms shutters Rosedale Street venue, buys larger North Rosedale site

Apr 03, 2024 | By:

A farm-oriented amusement venue that made a splash when it operated for a few weekends last fall has closed its doors (or rather, farmyard gates) for good at its Rosedale Street location. For sale signs popped up along its split-rail fence earlier this month, surprising passersby. Harbor Farms, the creation of Gig Harbor pizzeria and

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Food back in, events out at Olalla Bay Market

Mar 31, 2024 | By:

Kitsap County is allowing Olalla Bay Market to resume serving food and drinks while it seeks a restaurant permit, but says there’s no avenue to events returning.

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PenLight board elections draw six candidates for three positions

Mar 26, 2024 | By:

Six candidates are vying for three Peninsula Light board of directors positions in held in April and May. Members will receive ballots, with postage-paid envelopes, this week and can vote via mail. PenLight will announce election results at its annual meeting at 5:30 p.m. May 6. The company holds elections each year and sends ballots

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Commercial fishing fleet still waiting for its homeport

Mar 25, 2024 | By:

Members of Gig Harbor’s fishing fleet have waited more than a decade for the city to build a Commercial Fishing Homeport, which has been part of the plan for Ancich Park since 2013. It looks like they will have to wait at least another year. Negotiations between the city and the National Marine Fisheries Service

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Play ball! Mariners open new training center in Port Orchard

Mar 18, 2024 | By:

Her father describes her as fearless. Carolina wears layers of protective padding, her face partially obscured by a catcher’s helmet. The sixth grader is passionate about fastpitch softball and “loves being a catcher,” says her dad, Chris Doughty. Over and over, Carolina dives for a ball thrown by her coach. Her dad’s eyes follow each

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Gig Harbor Real Estate | Prices inch closer to record levels

Mar 06, 2024 | By: Alison Paoli

In Gig Harbor, the median home price inched closer to historic highs in February, rising by 0.4 percent from January to reach $853,500 for a single-family home. According to Northwest Multiple Listing Service data, the median price is now less than 1% away from the peak for single-family homes between the Purdy and Narrows bridges,

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Gig Harbor Boat Works: The biggest little boat builder in town

Mar 05, 2024 | By: Chapin Day

In a city that prides itself in its maritime past, the names of its boat builders are legend. Skansie, Crawford, Anderson, Glein, Hoppen, Maloney, Robertson … Huh? Robertson? Yeah. Robertson. You don’t recall seeing that name on a waterfront boatyard? Don’t bother looking. It’s not there, although you probably have driven by a simple sign

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