Restaurant, microbrewery and guest moorage among changes at Tacoma’s Narrows Marina
Feb 22 2012 in Business of Boating, Marinas by Deborah Bach
The marina's bait and tackle shop recently moved back into the building it was in when the marina opened in 1949. Photos courtesy of Scott Wagner
Few, if any, Northwest marinas can boast covered moorage, boat storage, a restaurant with a huge deck, a microbrewery and a bait and tackle shop all on one site.
But the Narrows Marina in Tacoma will soon be able to.
The marina is nearing the end of an extensive renovation that co-owner Scott Wagner said was a long time coming.
“This facility was in need of repair,” he said. “There was a lot of maintenance that had been deferred. We bought it with the goal of renovating it and making a profitable, functional facility.”
The marina’s main building will contain boat storage and a microbrewery and tasting room.The changes include a major upgrade of the marina’s main building, a 62,000-square foot structure that dates back to 1912. The revamped building will include 47,000 square feet of boat storage, facilitated by a new hoist that can move boats up to 36 feet and 18,000 pounds in and out of the water, and a microbrewery and tasting room slated to open in spring 2013 that will be run by the Narrows Brewing Company.
The marina’s bait and tackle shop has been moved back into the historic building, its original home. The shop was previously located in a building over the water that Wagner said will soon house a new bar and grill run by Denny Driscoll, who owns Tacoma’s two Lobster Shop restaurants. The restaurant, which is expected to open in July, will have a west-facing deck of about 5,000 square feet, Wagner said, and plenty of easily accessible parking.
The marina opened in 1949 and is located on a 26-acre site just west of the Narrows Bridge. It has 210 slips, most of them covered or in boathouses. There’s currently no designated guest moorage, but that will soon change with the addition of a dock that will have a dozen 27-foot slips and about 350 feet of linear moorage for larger boats.Wagner hopes to start construction on the dock in mid-July, when a “fish window” opens, and have it available for use by Aug. 1. With more guest moorage available, he thinks the restaurant and microbrewery will attract boaters.
- A new boat hoist was recently installed.
“I think this could be the last overwater restaurant in the city of Tacoma,” Wagner said. “We’re expecting it to be a big draw. People will be able to boat up here, get a growler, have something to eat and hopefully moor their boats here on a permanent basis.”
Other improvements include adding a new pumpout station and two new bathrooms (no showers). Wagner declined to say what the renovations cost, only that they are “in the millions.” He sounded optimistic that the investment will pay off.
“It’s such a unique spot and the remodel is going to be first-class,” he said. “I think that we’re going to provide a great experience to anybody who comes down here.”
Deborah Bach said on February 22, 2012
Sounds like a potential new place for you to play, Dave.
Dave Calhoun said on February 22, 2012
This is WAY cool!!! Move over Tides Tavern, there’s a new kid in town!