By Tim Kelly - KPBJ editor

China is the world’s most populous country, and millions of its citizens who travel abroad are affluent tourists who love coming to America. A recent CNN Money article noted that Chinese visitors to the United States jumped from under 400,000 in 2007 to almost 1.5 million in 2012, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. And in 2012 those travelers spent almost $9 billion in the U.S. read more »

By Terri Gleich - For KPBJ 

When Chris and Brooke Hammett created a series of Port Gamble trail running races in 2006, they wanted to do more than just promote their new running store. They also wanted to promote the trails.

“We really wanted people to realize what they have in their own backyard in terms of the trails there,” said Brooke Hammett, whose Poulsbo Running sells shoes and apparel for runners and triathletes. read more »

By Tim Kelly - KPBJ editor

Call it the path of lease resistance.

That’s what led two pairs of brothers — friends since junior high in Port Orchard and now business partners — to purchase a former nursery in Belfair as the site for their marijuana-growing operation.

“Probably the most difficult thing about this whole deal is finding a suitable location,” said Fadi Yashruti, point man for the investors who formed Seattle Inceptive Group to enter Washington’s recreational cannabis industry. read more »

Mike Looby is glad to be helping liven up downtown Bremerton, by opening the latest incarnation in the long tradition of the Horse and Cow bar.

The establishment opened on Fourth Street just off Pacific Avenue with little fanfare in July, just in time to be on the scene for one of the city’s liveliest summer events, the Bremerton Brewfest. read more »

By Rodika Tollefson - KPBJ contributor

When Crystie and Keith Keiser began making hard cider at their organic farm, Finnriver, they and their partner, Eric Jorgenson, were at the forefront of a new movement. Now the cidery in Chimacum (between Port Ludlow and Port Townsend) is open seven days a week for visitors who want to stop by for a tasting. read more »

By Tim Kelly - KPBJ editor

 Is the PortofKingston evicting an obstinate tenant who refuses to comply with reasonable regulations? Or is management retaliating against a successful woman business owner who publicly questioned the port’s policies and decisions?

  read more »

The Ale House on Winslow is sort of a stepping-stone for its young owners, whose long-term goal is to open a brewery.

But for now they’re enjoying being purveyors of beer at their new taproom on Bainbridge Island’s busiest corner. read more »

By Tim Kelly
KPBJ

They’re not just wingin’ it at Larue Hubbard’s chicken joint.

A couple self-styled restaurant consultants calling themselves FooDivaS are helping Hubbard rebrand the Bremerton storefront eatery whose specialty is chicken wings prepared with distinctive spices. read more »

As a business owner, Christina Jara operates on the level — literally, now that her Isella Salon Spa is in a new, larger location with a layout she designed.

“We’re on one level here, so it’s definitely a lot more customer-friendly not having to go up to the second floor for the spa,” Jara said.

Before the move a few doors down to the other side of Fourth Street in downtown Bremerton, the salon had leased two floors in the Soriano building near the corner of Pacific Avenue in downtown Bremerton. read more »