Call It WalBucks

Now that it’s open, it needs a name. Or at least a better name than “West Bremerton Starbucks.” That’s what a recent article in the Kitsap Sun called the latest store (see photo) to join the Starbucks empire.

The new Starbucks is located in the Walgreens lower parking lot at the corner of Kitsap Way and National Avenue in Bremerton. It opened on June 29th. According to the Kitsap Sun article, there is inside seating for 85 plus patio seating and a drive-through window. It was built to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for environmental building standards.

In April the Mud Bay blog ran a “Name This Bucks” contest. There weren’t a lot of entries, but the winner, which I am announcing now, succinctly notes the location, hints at the architecture, and includes the coffee chain’s seemingly profit-oriented second syllable all in one word: WalBucks.

I haven’t tried WalBucks yet. I have driven by a couple of times though and would say that, so far, it hasn’t exactly been overrun by customers. Normally any new restaurant, fast food or otherwise, in Kitsap County is mobbed for the first few weeks after it opens. One recent example was the Hop Jack’s in Silverdale.

Perhaps business will pick up after the grand opening on July 14th. Or when people notice that the new store is finally open. (Serious construction started in February, and the exterior was finished by early May. However, completing the interior dragged on for another 6 or 7 weeks.) If not, maybe WalBucks should send out some coupons. :)

Being retired, I don’t have a lot of business meetings. When I need to meet people but don’t necessarily want them to come to my house, I have used the McDonalds on Kitsap Way as it is easy to find. Now I have a classier place to go even if the electronic message center below the new Starbucks (see photo) is always going to say Walgreens.