Last Saturday morning was one to remember for Juliet Shields: She bought a jigsaw puzzle… in-person… at an open store.
What would have been an otherwise unremarkable day now marked her first purchase at a non-essential business since the coronavirus hit three months ago. “Now that seems like a big deal,” said Shields, 43, of Bainbridge Island. “There's a certain comfort in that.”
On Friday afternoon, Aaron Burkhart came from Seattle to belatedly celebrate his 40th birthday. He got a haircut, ate lunch and enjoyed a drink (or two) in downtown Bremerton. “I actually didn’t realize how good it felt until two and half beers ago,” he said. “It feels good.”
Grant Beckwith, 34, of Bremerton, can still count the number of times he’s gone out on one hand. While his first night at a bar was “overwhelming” with noise and people, he’s gotten more comfortable going out. “It’s nice to have social interaction or some place after work,” he said.
In Kitsap County’s first week of reopening, more residents are venturing out to shops and restaurants, with some still cautious about going out, while others are increasingly comfortable. From Bainbridge Island to Bremerton, there’s a careful, yet exciting feel as society slowly dials back up.
Along the sidewalks of Winslow Way in Bainbridge, small groups of people are chatting with one another standing outside. In downtown Bremerton, patrons are spaced out on patios sipping on beer and eating burgers. Many are wearing masks and purposefully keeping their space. Others are not.
In both cities, some stores have hung signs saying “We’re open,” alongside safety guidelines for customers to follow. Some are still closed and have their lights turned off, an unclear indication about whether they will remain that way. For every restaurant with its door open, there appears to be another with a message that it is only doing take-out orders or online deliveries.
“Its kinda eerie because stuff is still empty... it’s a weird transition period,” said Ross Vanderpool, 21, sitting with his wife outside the Horse and Cow Pub & Grill in Bremerton. “Open but not really.”
In Bremerton, customers and businesses eager to reconnect
“They’re excited but they’re being cautious." That's how bartender Kayleigh Des Lauries describes most customers coming into Another Castle, a pinball ball in downtown Bremerton.
While staff is taking extra steps to sanitize tables, doors and pinball machines, Des Lauries says most customers are also doing a good job following the bar's new rules: Ordering at the bar, sitting down or going outside, not wandering from table-to-table. “We are taking every precaution we can," she said.
Ashley’s Pub bartender Josh Powell says many people are still not sure what spots are back up and running. But now regulars and non-regulars alike are streaming in again, he said. After starting with limited hours, the Bremerton bar expanded its hours this week.
“Even if they enjoy their drinks and chase out their tabs, people are enjoying staying and talking to a friend face to face,” Powell said. “Beer is beer right now. I think everyone's like, 'I would be happy with a Rainier if I could see friends.'”
At the Manette Saloon, John James sat with a group of four or five people as they took a round of shots for one person’s birthday. James, 38, of Bremerton, says he’s not concerned about the virus and that he doesn’t believe in wearing a mask or trying to social distance.
“What safety precautions?” he said. “I think of lot of people feel like it’s B.S.”
Customers at the Kitsap Community Food Co-op have been more understanding about the shop’s new rules, which require people to wear a mask and gloves inside. The grocery store chose to shut down in-person shopping and rely only on online orders for the past three months.
And while some staff and customers were wary about reopening, co-manager Summer Adams says the store has made adjustments to keep people safe if they shop in-person.
“The people who are hesitant are still doing order online,” Adams said. “The people who are venturing out are pretty excited to be back in the store and seeing the changes we've made.”
On Bainbridge, worries about travel and safety
Lisa Wagner, owner of the Bon Bon candy store in Bainbridge, says the shop will continue curbside and online orders, but she still isn’t letting people inside. “I’m just kind of nervous if we are 100% ready to go,” she said, explaining she still needs to train staff. “I want staff and customers to be sure that we are ready.”
At Blackbird Bakery, also on Bainbridge, owner Heidi Umphenour doesn’t plan on moving beyond curbside orders for at least several weeks. “You have to be careful. You have to be thoughtful. For me, it's about everyone's safety,” she said. “If you open it back up and everyone gets sick that’s a lose-lose.”
Kerry Sutorius, owner of Wildernest, says the Bainbridge store opened May 28 — the first day Kitsap moved into Phase 2 and businesses were allowed to reopen. “We got everything in place so literally when they said you go, we were ready,” she said.
In the first few days of reopening, the store was busy with locals as well as travelers from Seattle. “I know people are concerned that we are going to be a first contact, but we have to be given the opportunity to make this work as a community,” Sutorius said.
Jane Danielson, co-owner of Eagle Harbor Book Company, says Bainbridge has seen people taking the ferry from Seattle “every day we’ve had our doors open,” though traffic at the store was light over the first weekend.
Local health officials have warned that reopening could attract a swarm of Seattle residents and travelers from surrounding counties coming to Kitsap and spreading the novel coronavirus.
That could be especially concerning on Bainbridge Island, which is the closest city to Seattle that has reopened in Phase 2. King County was approved Friday for a “modified” Phase 1. While Bainbridge businesses rely on tourism during the summer, city officials and local business leaders have expressed concerns about people coming to the island and not following safety measures, such as wearing a mask.
At least a week in, that doesn’t yet appear to be the case. “We have a few people making our way over, said Chris Mueller, executive director of Visit Bainbridge. But, with the ferries still not running full time, she said, “We haven't seen a lot of tourism yet.”
On the flip side, the lack of travelers could compound the pandemic’s economic pain, said Jerri Lane, executive director of the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association. With cruise ships and international travel put on hold, Bainbridge won't see out-of-state and international tourists making their way to the island.
That puts Bainbridge Island in a delicate position: Although businesses will rely on Seattle travelers taking the ferry, they also want to make sure people who do come are taking steps to avoid spreading the virus.
Lane says that involves establishing trust “on both sides,” with both businesses and tourists following the proper safety measures. “I think this is going to take a little time for the wheels to start rolling again,” she said.
Austen Macalus is the Kitsap Sun's social services reporter — covering health care, homelessness and how programs are serving those in need. He can be reached at austen.macalus@kitsapsun.com or 360-536-6423.
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From Bainbridge in Bremerton, Kitsap’s first week of reopening finds some cautious, others unconcerned - Kitsap Sun
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