Beloved Pierce County brunch restaurant is expanding. How will parking change?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Devoted Kiss plans to expand its space downtown to reduce customer wait times.
- Owners plan short construction closure after permits, eyeing possible April reopening.
- The business hopes for increased street parking availability and faster service.
How long would you wait for an eggs Benedict, a ham and bacon omelet or banana bread French toast?
Devoted Kiss Café puts hungry customers to the test at peak rush hour, when wait times can range up to an hour and a half “on those busy summer Sundays,” according to co-owner Christina Dengler. The busy waterfront restaurant at 8809 N. Harborview Dr. Suite 203 is open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and offers classic breakfast fare as well as soups, salads and sandwiches.
Those wait times could go down as early as this year, as the restaurant enlarges its space and hopes to achieve faster customer service.
Expanding the cafe became possible when Salon Riviera vacated the space next door, Dengler said in a phone call Jan. 5. The hair salon is now located at 5401 32nd Ave. Suite 101 in Gig Harbor.
The remodel will nearly double the restaurant’s current space, from about 1,500 to over 3,000 square feet.
Devoted Kiss posted the announcement on Instagram and Facebook Dec. 31, assuring customers that its doors aren’t closing and promising future updates.
“We’re thriving and loving every guest, every dish, and all the curious folks stopping by!” the post said. “Thank you for your continued support, and stay tuned for updates on our exciting expansion!”
The Facebook post got some 2,900 reactions and over 270 comments, many cheering the news.
In a way, the expansion is a return to the building’s earlier history as a single unified space. Stephanie Lile, director of the Harbor History Museum, confirmed via email that the building used to be part of the TideRunner boat company, founded by a designer and builder named Al Bucholz in 1971. Bucholz’s family ran the business until December 1998, Lile wrote.
“TideRunners came in a variety of models, but all were constructed of fiberglass and designed by Bucholz,” she wrote. She added that the vessels “were Gig Harbor born and built.”
.jpg "Allan and Jeff Bucholz working at the Tiderunner Sales Counter (2).jpg")
After the company closed, the family decided to split the building into two units, said Erin Gatherum, Al Bucholz’s granddaughter. Gatherum now manages the property, which the family still owns. Another restaurant, Harbor Kitchen, occupied the space before Devoted Kiss, she said.
Gatherum said that the space at 8809 N. Harborview Dr. used to contain the boat company’s showroom and sales counter. TideRunner boats still have “kind of a cult following,” and you can still see them on the water today, she told The News Tribune. Devoted Kiss has photos from TideRunner’s history on the walls, and plans to add to their decor after the restaurant expands, she said.
“We’re excited to open it back up and bring it back to its roots,” Dengler said.
Though it’s getting bigger, the restaurant should still be recognizable to longtime customers. Dengler said that their goal is to ensure it looks as similar as possible to its current design.
“The idea is that people walk in the front door and recognize Devoted Kiss in a bigger and better environment,” she said.
Will the expansion mean more parking for the busy dining spot?
Dengler said they hope that reduced customer wait times will create a faster turnaround time for parking, meaning spots could open up faster. With Salon Riviera gone, customers also won’t be sharing the available street parking with stylists and hair salon guests, “so we were hoping that between those two things we should be able to free up more parking in the area,” she said.
The business will need to close during construction, hopefully for only four weeks, Dengler confirmed via email Tuesday. That won’t happen until the restaurant completes the permitting process with the city, which could take four to six weeks once Devoted Kiss submits its application. The restaurant plans to file the application “within the next week or two,” Dengler wrote.
She told The News Tribune that “fingers are crossed for April” for reopening after construction, though “it’s still a little too early to tell” a solid timeline.
Devoted Kiss has been serving customers for nearly 15 years, according to Dengler. She co-owns the restaurant with her husband Devon. Both formerly worked on the management team at the Anthony’s restaurant down the street.
Years of experience working in the Finholm district means both are familiar with “what the district needs and wants,” Dengler said.
She expressed gratitude to the city of Gig Harbor and the residents for their support.
“They really make it fun to be part of the community,” she said.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled the Bucholz family name. The article has been updated with the proper spelling.
This story was originally published January 7, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
