This week’s announcement that The Doctors Clinic is leaving Bremerton is a tough pill for city residents to swallow.
It’s reasonable that the physicians at The Doctors Clinic want to move because of financial concerns and the fact that they want to be closer to Harrison Medical Center which has also announced plans to consolidate its hospital services in Silverdale.
Just like the Harrison Hospital in Bremerton, The Doctors Clinic building is more than 50 years old and needed renovations would be costly.
But the news hits Bremerton hard. Even Mayor Patty Lent weighed in saying she’s concerned about Bremerton’s large population having to travel to Silverdale for medical care. Lent is a part of a group assembled by Harrison to take a look at this transition.
All, however, is not bad for Bremerton.
In the past few months, it has seen business growth. Along Wheaton Way, there’s been the addition of Henery Do It Best Hardware. And Kitsap Bank has just completed its new branch at Sylvan Way, with a Starbucks.
If you take a look at Kitsap Way leading into town, a renovated former motel is set to open soon as a Motel 6. Spiro’s Pizza and Pasta has a new location, and a new ACE Hardware has just opened next to Arnold’s Home Furnishings.
In downtown Bremerton, changes are happening, too. In the past year, Purpose Boutique, a homegrown women’s clothing store, has expanded. New restaurants are springing up, including the Sweet & Smokey Diner.
Other businesses such as Rocket Roost and Fingers Duke have opened up shop as well.
Even the offices of the Bremerton Patriot and the Central Kitsap Reporter have relocated to downtown Bremerton, in the United Way Building at 645 Fourth St.
And there is talk of the Port of Bremerton and the city working on a plan to add another hotel downtown to support the Kitsap Conference Center. Mayor Lent has said that more hotel space is needed to be able to market the conference center for large conventions.
Bremerton has long been known as a Navy town, and for that the city is proud. City leaders now need to put their heads together to ensure the city has the needed services for its residents as well as interesting stores, restaurants and events that will continue to bring visitors to town.
