“On The Boardwalk” Building Might Become Artists’ Studio

As you may remember, about a year ago local artists Bob Stokes and Paul Labrie wanted to rent the On The Boardwalk site for a studio. The city turned them down, but now they’re reconsidering.

The former On The Boardwalk Restaurant (across the street from the ferry terminal) has been empty for several years.

Bob Stokes and Paul Labrie want to create a metal-sculpture and glass-blowing studio in the building. It seems like a much better use for the building. And tourists getting off the ferry presumably would rather see an art studio than a boarded-up restaurant.

A New Artists’ Studio on Railroad Avenue?

That boarded-up On The Boardwalk restaurant across the street from the ferry terminal — between Dairy Queen and Necessities and Temptations — might finally be getting put to use.

Bob Stokes and glass-blower Paul LaBrie are hoping to lease the building from the city. If the city approves the lease, the building will have a glass-blowing studio, metal-working studio and some retail space.

I didn’t even know the city owned that building. It’s uncertain whether the city will approve the lease, but Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Russ Veenema is in favor of it, so maybe that’ll give it some momentum.

Port Angeles is becoming known as a city that supports the arts. And we need to keep moving further in that direction.