Business Bites :: SoundBiteBlog.com

One of the challenges when moving to a new area is finding local businesses that you can trust. This is especially true when dealing with repairs to your car or truck. Given all the complexities of today’s automobiles, even the most basic maintenance requirements can be rather daunting and mysterious. Fortunately, here in Kitsap County, the choice of reliable auto repair shops is an obvious one – Town & Country Auto Repair on Chico Way in Bremerton WA. You’re biggest challenge is going to be getting scheduled for an appointment, so give yourself some time. But trust me, it’s well worth the wait! The highly qualified Technicians at Town & Country Auto Repair will skillfully diagnose whatever problems your car or truck is experiencing, and will give you an honest & fair estimate of what is needed to fix it. What I appreciate about Town & Country Auto Repair is that they never compromise on vehicle safety. If it’s a matter of your personal safety, they won’t cut corners. But they also give you options – do you want to try a used part? A certified re-built? A new component? The Guys at Town & Country Auto Repair understand the difficulties of making ends meet in today’s troubling economy. They’ve built a solid reputation for quality workmanship at affordable rates. For all of your auto repairs needs, call Town & Country Auto Repair (360) 692-2262 Town & Country Auto Repair 3420 Chico Way Bremerton, WA 98312 360-692-2262 Google Map

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Tags: auto repair, bremerton WA, Kitsap County WA, town & country auto repair

Living in the Pacific Northwest, and being a stone’s throw across the Sound from Seattle, we are literally inundated with coffee shops & espresso stands on nearly every corner. From the major players like Starbuck’s, Tully’s, and Seattle’s Best, to the smaller venues like “Natte Latte,” we have a wealth of choices to get our caffeine quick fix.

In his book “The Purple Cow,” Marketing Guru Seth Godin states that Starbucks was ‘remarkable’ a few years ago. Now, he says, they’re boring.

Well, I wouldn’t necessarily call them ‘boring.’ Just recently, they intentionally closed all of their stores early so they could conduct training sessions for their employees. Supposedly it was to send a message to us consumers that Starbucks truly cares about improving their products/services. I watched a video clip on MSNBC where they were interviewing regular Starbucks customers outside one of the ‘closed’ stores. Boy, were they ever upset! Most of them simply headed down the street to the nearby Dunkin’ Donuts store! …..But I digress….

We have a new ‘player’ here in Kitsap County WA - The Global Bean. They occupy 1st floor space in the Cavalon Place II Office Building, part of the new Highland Business Park on Myhre Road in Silverdale.

As a long time Starbucks customer, I initally thought this venture was headed for a tough go. I mean, who can compete with Starbucks? During my first visit, it took entirely way too long to get just a simple tall brewed coffee with an add shot. I had become spoiled by the Howard Schultz java assembly-line.

As I was waiting, I met one of the partners, Joel Skellie. Great guy, very personable, down to earth. He said straight up,…

“We’re never going to be fast. We’re not going to compete against Starbucks, or any of the others. This is a place to slow down and connect. And we’ve got live local musicians three nights a week – from Celtic to Bluegrass, Jazz or Acoustic. Our vision is to be a place where our community ‘happens” and becomes more intimate.”

Wow! Stop the Press! ‘Slow down’ and ‘Connect?” Gee, what a concept!

So, I’ve been back. A lot. My wife and I go just about every week for coffee and a friendly game of Scrabble over Jazz. My blogging buddy, Buckwheat (aka Mark Flanders) and I meet there every Thursday morning at 8am with other area blog enthusiasts. We met some friends of ours there a couple of Sundays ago, and enjoyed wonderful conversation and great eats. As we were talking, we noticed that the place was empty except for us. We asked the barrista why there weren’t more customers, and he said that they had closed 2 hours ago! We were mortified! But they had been so busy cleaning up and had simply allowed us to continue our conversations!

The Global Bean is the vision and reality of partners Joel Skellie and Lance Gilbert. Joel has been a Kitsap County resident for over 19 years, served as a worship pastor for nearly as long, and is heavily involved in community music. Lance moved here in 1995 bringing a very successful software company along with him from Southern California. He is also involved in area music and theatre, enjoys graphic arts, music & video production, software design, and consulting.

Okay, so maybe when you’re in a hurry, you can do one of those ‘other’ drive-thru assembly line places. But as crazy and hectic as life is these days, it sure is a nice change of pace to ‘slow down’ and ‘connect’ every once in a while! 

The Global Bean…  “Where Community and Coffee Connect!”

2021 NW Myhre Road, Suite 101 ~ Silverdale, WA ~ 360.892.9582

Hours:  M-Th 7am-10pm ~ Fri 8am-Midnight ~ Sat 9am-Midnight ~ Sun 8am-7pm

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Posted in Bites of Washington, Business Bites, Kitsap County Bites, Silverdale WA Real Estate | 1 Comment »

In the early morning hours of May 30th of 2006, a very popular local eatery in Poulsbo WA was left in charred ruins by fire. When Mitzel’s, a well known landmark, went up in smoke, area residents lost a dining tradition they had enjoyed for over 20 years.

Fast forward to the present, and the grand opening of ”Taprock Northwest Grill.”

Recently, I offered my son, Ben, and his friend, Josh, a lunchtime reprieve from their house-building efforts, and treated them both to a meal at the new Taprock Northwest Grill.

As is typical of most newly opened restaurants, the place was packed with plenty of local business people and assorted patrons patiently awaiting a seat.

The hired help was extremely friendly and gracious throughout our meal. On several occasions, the Manager, Steve Hancock, came up, personally greeted us, and inquired about our meal/service.

Yours Truly enjoyed a plate of Pan-Fried Totten Bay Oysters, while both Ben and Josh manhandled the Mountain High Tillamook Cheddar & Bacon Burger.

Trust me when I say that “Mountain High’ is an adequate description!

The food was very tasty, the service prompt and attentive, and the prices kind to my wallet.

The decor was classic Pacific Northwest, appointed with generous use of wood and stone, giving you the sense of an upscale hunting lodge or ski resort, but only next to a strip mall. It wasn’t too high-end though. Ben and Josh felt right at home in their work boots and bibs.

Overall, a very pleasant experience, and one that will no doubt more than adequately fill the shoes left behind by Mitzel’s.

Located at 760 NE Liberty Road, Poulsbo, WA 98370 * Phone: 360.697.2215

Hours of Operation
Sunday – Thursday:      11am – 10pm
Friday and Saturday:    11am – 11pm

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Well, according to the latest census study, Seattle has once again garnered the Top Spot as the Smartest City in the US.

Data collected shows that 52.7 percent of the residents of the Emerald City aged 25-and over hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Seattle is followed by the City by the Bay, San Francisco; then Raleigh, North Carolina; Washington, D.C.; and Austin, Texas, rounding out the Top Five.

So, how does this affect us here on the Kitsap Peninsula? Can we simply claim intelligence by virtue of proximity? Are we able to absorb the Seattlite’s collective brain power through some cosmic process of osmosis?

Or maybe, instead of telling people that I’m from Silverdale WA, I’ll just say “Seattle” and they’ll automatically think I’m a Smarty Pants!

Oh, Thank You, Wizard of Oz!

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One of our family’s annual Holiday traditions is venturing out the weekend after Thanksgiving, and cutting down our Yuletide Christmas Tree.

In addition to the usual multitude of ‘pre-cut’ tree lots, there are a number of excellent ‘live’ tree farms located throughout Kitsap County WA.

Our first year here, we purchased a ‘pre-cut’ tree from Olmstead’s Christmas Trees here in Silverdale WA. They were close and convenient, just down the street from Clear Creek Elementary on Sunde Road.

For the proceeding couple of years, we went out to Kuney’s Christmas Trees, on Pioneer Road out in Seabeck WA. For a flat fee, you can select any tree on their property, regardless of size. Definitely a good bargain!

The last 3 years, we’ve cut out trees out at Hubert’s Noble Ridge Christmas Tree Farm, off Seabeck Hwy. in Bremerton WA. Although somewhat pricey, compared to other area lots, they have a wide selection of numerous evergreen varieties, including Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, Noble Fir, Shasta Fir, Western White Pine, and Southwest Alpine. They also offer the ”Noble House,” a place to snuggle up to a cozy fire and enjoy a cup of hot cider.

Our local newspaper, the Kitsap Sun, published a fairly comprehensive list of Christmas Tree farms throughout the West Sound area. Go HERE to access the list.

Another great National resource directory for finding Christmas Tree Farms throughout the US is www.PickYourOwnChristmasTree.org

To all of our SoundBiteBlog readers, have a very Merry Christmas Holidays, and a most prosperous New Year!

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