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INDEPENDENT PORT ORCHARD
125 YEA
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016 ✮ VOL. 125, NO. 29 ✮ WWW.PORTORCHARDINDEPENDENT.COM ✮ 50¢
Building sold, Lighthouse restaurant closes doors Restaurant owner looking for new location in Port Orchard, Gorst By BOB SMITH
rsmith@portorchardindependent.com
Port Orchard’s Lighthouse restaurant closed its doors Wednesday, Aug. 31, after a Tacoma-based buyer closed on his purchase of the distinctive waterfront building that the business has occupied. A sales price had not yet been made public at press deadline. The building has an assessed value just under $2 million. Taxes paid to Kitsap County are $24,000 a year. The new building owner, Ali Kashi, owns a chain of Cheers Bar and Grill restaurants in the Puget Sound region. Kashi purchased the property from 429 Bay Street LLC, led by Tim Tweten. The seller then gave Konig a 30-day notice to vacate as the purchase agreement went into escrow.
Lighthouse owner priced out Negotiations between Kashi and Lighthouse business owner Brookes Konig ended last week after the new owner presented the restauranteur with new lease terms, which included a $9,000 jump in monthly lease payments. “The lease terms were outrageous,” Konig said. “We have been leasing the building for $6,000 a month on a gross lease basis. The new owner wanted $15,000 a month, which we — or any other restaurant owner — couldn’t justify and make money.” He believes Kashi bought the building to house his own branded restaurant. Konig notified the restaurant’s 43 employees of the imminent closure on Friday, Aug. 26. “I’d love for us
to stay in the community,” Konig said while conducting an inventory count on the day the purchase closed. “We’ve had the same staff working here from the start.” Konig purchased the existing Lighthouse business and reopened it in September 2014. He was just days away from celebrating his second anniversary there on Sept. 4. Following the sale, Konig said 429 Bay Street LLC leased him the building on a month-to-month basis until the sale closed. Konig emphasized that he wanted the Port Orchard community to know his intent was not to close, nor to leave the area. “Business has been good. Last year we grossed $1.26 million in sales. This year, we were on track to take in $1.6 million.” The outpouring of community support since he made the announcement early this week has been overwhelming, Konig said. “I’ve been on the phone all day today with residents who’ve called me.” The landmark restaurant has about 7,000 “likes” on Facebook, he said, more than any other South Kitsap restaurant — which attests to its popularity. “I was just as surprised as everyone else when the announcement came out,” said Rob Putaansuu, Port Orchard’s mayor. “I’m saddened for Brookes because he’s been a huge asset and has given back to our community in so many ways through his business.” Putaansuu said he spoke with Konig on Tuesday about some ideas he had, “but nothing concrete,” he added. “He’ll need to put together a good business plan if he reaches out to a property owner in town.” By having to abruptly shutter his business, Konig said he’s taking a $100,000 hit on investments put into the building at 429 Bay St. He’s LIGHTHOUSE, SEE A2
Bob Smith | Independent
Brookes Konig, the owner of Port Orchard’s Lighthouse restaurant, is still reeling from the closure of his landmark business on Bay Street. The building in which the restaurant is housed has been sold to a buyer who owns six Cheers Bar and Grill restaurants around the Puget Sound region.
Camp to Belong
It’s a place for separated siblings to reunite By SARA MILLER
smiller@portorchardindependent.com
It’s easy for young people to take for granted their siblings and shared family time. But for a select few, circumstances not of their creation have taken away the most precious individuals they will ever know: their brother or sister. Camp to Belong exists to make sure some of the absence so keenly
felt by children in the foster-care system is reduced. Children who find themselves placed in foster care experience a jolt to their emotional system. But when their siblings also enter the system, the shock can be multiplied. Unfortunately, many of these siblings are split up to live in separate households. CAMP, SEE A15
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