POULSBO — Though the wharf building has struggled for its identity among downtown businesses in years past, Steve Urand feels his newest venture might continue the building’s upward mobility of late.

Urand, the owner of the Portside Pub since November 2001, bought Sheila’s Bay Cafe next door less than five months ago. And though managing an evening hangout and a popular breakfast haunt may sound like a mismatch, Urand said it’s part of a plan to keep both businesses hopping.

“I’ve discovered to be successful in business, you have to constantly find something new to attract more people to your business and I’m always on the lookout for something new,” Urand commented.

In just two years, Urand has drastically expanded the Portside Pub’s offerings to make it more inviting to a greater number of people. From pool and dart leagues to weekend music and karaoke, most evenings find the watering hole filled to the brim.

“Business is good,” Urand said of the pub.

Urand even added a smoke-free lounge with comfy leather sofas to the mix this year. Renting the former Liberty Bay Nauticals location also afforded the pub an entrance on the north side of the wharf building facing Anderson Parkway, which Urand said helped bring him much more exposure for the business.

The only thing that was missing, Urand admitted, was food. The Portside Pub has always been just that — a pub, with no room to expand for a kitchen space. The only way to eat there was to order out, and regulars had long known they could bring in food from outside. The pub even kept menus from neighboring restaurants like the Golden Dragon and That’s A Some Italian Ristorante on hand for hungry visitors.

So when Urand heard that Sheila’s Bay Cafe was up for sale last year, he thought it might be the way to clear his food hurdle. But the real challenge would be convincing his wife Ruth that it was a sound business decision.

“The first time I mentioned it to her, she said, ‘No, you don’t know anything about restaurants,’” Urand recalled with a laugh. “But then a couple of buyers fell through and I mentioned it to Ruth again and this time she said, ‘OK, I think it would be a nice addition to your business.’”

Though the two businesses remain separate at the moment, Urand said his ultimate goal is to make them one big space at some point. But for now, he’s just getting used to running a restaurant, which he said is much different from the pub business.

“My only restaurant experience is eating in restaurants,” he said with a smile.

And though he said he’s enjoying learning the restaurant business, Urand acknowledged the transition has been smooth for him because of the top-notch staff at Sheila’s that he inherited in the sale. He said he was especially thankful for his staff right after the sale went through.

“I bought Sheila’s in October, just after I broke my leg,” Urand said. “It was rather inconvenient.”

Though he doesn’t have a timeline as to when the two will be physically connected, Sheila’s food is now available at the pub. Already, Urand has changed Sheila’s hours so that the eatery opens earlier and he hopes to soon have the kitchen open later for the evening crowd at Portside.

And while the popular menu, including famous omelettes and country-style potatoes, will stay intact, it will likely get a few additions. Urand said he hopes to add a traditional English breakfast and also some healthier and possibly vegetarian dishes to the menu.