Devoted Kiss Café is back in business after an 11-week renovation that nearly doubled its seating and stretched its waterfront deck farther over Gig Harbor. The neighborhood breakfast favorite has a larger kitchen, a new espresso setup and a griddle built to handle scratch pancakes at full tilt. Regulars will find the familiar menu, just with more elbow room and, if all goes according to plan, shorter weekend wait times.
According to The News Tribune, the café officially reopened on June 23 after expanding indoor seating from 40 to 66 and outdoor deck seating from 14 to 30. The paper reports the project lasted about 11 weeks and added a dedicated pastry area, a larger walk-in cooler and an on-site office, and that roughly 32 employees returned when the doors opened. Co-owner Christina Dengler told the paper the reopening "feels like forever" and joked, "we wash our windows a lot!"
Plans Were In Motion For Months
The expansion into the neighboring space followed the departure of Salon Riviera and had been on the horizon for months. Gig Harbor Now covered the owners' plans earlier this year, and city records show renovation permits were filed in February. Owners said the added capacity was specifically designed to cut down the long lines that often snake out the door on weekend mornings.
Kitchen Upgrades And Crowd Relief
Behind the scenes, the kitchen got a serious tune-up. The crew now cooks on a 48-inch griddle and an expanded stove that grew from six burners to 10 so pancakes and other scratch-made dishes can hit the pass faster. The News Tribune also notes the arrival of a La Marzocco espresso machine for Cutters Point Coffee and fresh trim and wainscoting installed by Fox Island Woodworks. Owners say the new layout and equipment should smooth out peak service and help the team better keep pace with demand.
When To Go
Devoted Kiss is open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the waterfront at 8809 North Harborview Drive in Gig Harbor. Visit Gig Harbor lists the café's hours and location, and the owners encourage guests to look forward to shorter waits as the extra seating eases the morning rush. For questions or reservations, the café can be reached at (253) 851-0055.
