When the housing market took a tumble a couple of years ago, business for many construction companies came close to a screeching halt. For Hoppet Design Construction, surviving and thriving in the tough economic times meant going back to its roots — and it wasn’t an easy lesson.

A mixed-use condominium project in Manchester, the company’s first foray into the commercial development arena, failed to bring in buyers due to the unfolding housing industry crisis. The unique project had been partially financed through the owners’ personal investments. read more »

EHT Enterprises, based in Bremerton, has built an extensive portfolio of government projects ranging from remodeling barracks at Fort Lewis to a state-of-the-art, high-security intelligence center (Sensitive Compartment Information Facility, or SCIF) at Camp Murray and runway repairs at Whidbey Island.

The company has completed hundreds of projects, the largest at $3.5 million, having found its niche in the military sector. read more »

Bremerton-based FPH Construction, Inc. has had a hand in many well-known Kitsap buildings, from Victorian Springhouse Dolls & Gifts building in Port Orchard, to the Poulsbo Inn and Manette’s Boat Shed Restaurant. The company, 27 years old, has built and remodeled hundreds of commercial projects on the Kitsap Peninsula, and is currently working on its largest project yet — an 85,000-square-foot building in Poulsbo for a distributing company. read more »

Buick ditched its poor-selling SUV wannabe Rendezvous and Rainier in 2008, along with the Terraza minivan. Taking their place was the all-new crossover SUV, the Buick Enclave — a luxury crossover sport utility. It seats up to eight, features the passenger and cargo room of truck-based SUVs, utilizes car-like unibody construction for a pleasant ride read more »

The Port Orchard-based BJC Group has been one of South Kitsap’s prominent commercial builders for more than a decade. The company’s portfolio includes such projects as the new Cosmo’s Ristorante and Naumann Johnson Orthodontic buildings and renovations of Puerto Vallarta restaurant, among many others.

Robert Baglio, majority company owner, was raised in Port Orchard and is a South Kitsap High School grad. Together with partner Darryl Read, he has steadily grown the company since founding it nearly 15 years ago, and has stayed busy with projects even through the downturn. read more »

St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor recently received the 2010 Design & Health International Academy Award for Sustainable Design. The award, by the International Academy for Design and Health, recognizes excellence in healthcare-related projects that foster health, wellbeing and quality of life. read more »

When Suquamish resident Mike Hale started looking around Kitsap County for a place to open a new pub, he didn’t have to look for long. As soon as senior property manager Rene’ Morris heard about his desire to bring Hale’s Alehouse to Kitsap, she came knocking.

Hale read more »

Arnold’s Home Furnishings has moved back to its original location at 3520 Kitsap Way and celebrated a grand opening at the end of July. For the past year, the store took temporary home on Marine Drive, after an arson fire destroyed part of the building.

Known for its quality furniture and excellent customer service since 1951, Arnold’s continued read more »

Northlight Photography’s newly developed website is available at www.nlpinc.com.

Recent photo assignments include The Kelly House Health Care Facility in Bremerton for Robert Baglio of The BJC Group, US Border Patrol Complex in Blaine for ISEC, St. Josephs Hospital in Stockton CA for the Avonite Corporation, The Lodge at Mallard Landing, Gig Harbor for TSA Architects, Tacoma General Hospitals new addition for ISEC and a variety of remodeled projects throughout the Puget Sound and Eastern Washington. read more »