Hotel, restaurant welcome visitors with flowers

Joan Cronk

Special to the Gateway

First impressions are important to Sue Braaten, owner and operator of the Best Western Wesley Inn of Gig Harbor.

“Guests go, ‘Wow,’ when they see the flowers and the grounds,” said Braaten, who gives gardener extraordinaire Flora Boss credit and a free rein when it comes to landscaping.

Boss, a stay-at-home mom for 18 years, has been friends with Braaten for a long time. Originally, the landscape of the Wesley Inn consisted of evergreen plants, but Braaten wanted more variety on the grounds. She spent quite a bit of time trying to convince Boss to bring her gardening skills to the Wesley Inn — and it finally worked two years ago.

Now, overflowing baskets grace the entrance and, due to the overhang and the wind, Boss was especially creative with the first-impression area.

Boss, a natural for combining colors and textures, said folks should, “just buy the plants and play with them a bit. You’ll learn a lot!”

A large pot by the front door contains trailing bacopa, some impatients packed in closely, plus tri-colored ivy plants, hebe, coleus and Yew.

Parker, Braaten’s shih tzu/maltese dog, greets guests as they arrive, and the Wesley Inn offers pet-friendly rooms.

The Wesley Inn was built by Braaten’s husband Ken 12 years ago and named after her father-in-law, Wesley Braaten.

The large lobby welcomes guests with tables, chairs, coffee or tea as they check in or wait for other guests. The hotel offers 81 rooms, a deluxe continental breakfast and complimentary wireless Internet access and newspaper. An outdoor swimming pool — and many lawn chairs — is available during the summer months.

Braaten bought an old sailboat at an estate sale and she discovered the boat’s real character when she peeled off the fiberglass. The sailboat, which hangs in the lobby, was one of three that belonged to Claude Spadoni, a longtime Gig Harbor resident.

Foster children hold a special place in the hearts of the Braatens. Sue, a court appointed special advocate volunteer for years, worked with one girl who was moved 19 times during a three-year period.

“I decided this just should not happen,” Braaten said. The Braatens plan to build a home for foster kids, which they hope to call The Homestead at Alder Cove.

Braaten said the project would consist of a village concept.

“I want foster kids to have a nice home they can be proud of,” she said.

The Homestead would sit on 45 acres and offer on-site services and chidren’s living arrangements.

Each year, Braaten hosts a Christmas party at the Wesley Inn for foster children during which they receive what Braaten describes as, “Something my children would receive.” Last year, the younger kids unwrapped iPods and the older ones laptop computers.

Braaten said Gig Harbor is a generous community: she doesn’t have any trouble getting donations for the party.

“Just imagine how pleased those kids were to go back to school after vacation and report what they received for Christmas!” Braaten said.

Braaten said the Wesley Inn’s mission is to have guests feel special when they leave.

The Sunset Grill

Customers at the Sunset Grill on Point Fosdick Drive in Gig Harbor are welcomed by a multitude of hanging baskets and potted flowers that were planted and cared for by owner Lee Camp.

Camp and her husband, Bill, bought the restaurant eight years ago and credit their staff with making the business a success.

One of their employees, Teresa Paulino, recently returned from three months off to take care of her father, who recently passed away. As customers greeted Paulino, they gave her a welcome-back hug.

Liz Remick has worked at the location for 19 years.

“This is a good crew,” she said, “even the customers like us.”

Bill Camp said there are about 40 employees who help keep everything on track.

“We have a laissez faire attitude about the business,” he said.

Many types of vintage airplanes hang in the restaurant’s entryway. Bill, a retired military pilot, said if any customer can identify 10 of the aircraft, they can receive a free meal. The catch is that Bill chooses the aircraft a customer must identify. He said only one customer, a 12-year-old, has even been close to accomplishing the feat.

Bill, who flew in the Middle East for about 14 years said, “This is as close as my wife lets me get to aviation now.”

The Sunset Grill is open from 9 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. and the lounge opens at 11 a.m. Karaoke is offered on Friday and Saturday nights, and kitchen manager Gary Marcello, a drummer, takes the stage from 9 p.m. to midnight on Thursdays along with Steve Stefanowicz, a blind guitarist, and Bill Odden.

The restaurant offers an open Mic and food, including breakfast, until 9 p.m. After that time, snacks are available in the bar.

Customers Nancy Fortney and Marie Bowman go to the Sunset Grill for an omelet twice a week.

“We love everything,” said Fortney, who said they split a large omelet and feel they can sit and visit as long as they like.

Lee Camp learned the restaurant business while she was in Korea when she was a teenager working for her brother. The Camps’ son is in business with them as well, giving them the flexibility to take a little more time off to spend with their granddaughter.

“Customers come here for a reasonably priced meal, and most are locals,” Bill Camp said. “I love this restaurant.”