Tag: Snohomish County

  • Naval Station Everett Frigates: What’s Next for the Base?

    Naval Station Everett Frigates: What’s Next for the Base?

    Q: What happened to the frigates coming to Naval Station Everett?
    A: The Navy cancelled the Constellation-class frigate program in November 2025 after years of cost overruns and construction delays, ending a plan to homeport 12 new ships in Everett. Local leaders are now fighting to ensure the base secures a role in whatever comes next.

    Naval Station Everett’s Fight for Its Future After the Frigate Program Collapse

    For years, Naval Station Everett had a clearly defined destiny: become the Pacific homeport for 12 brand-new Constellation-class guided-missile frigates, transforming the base into one of the most significant surface combatant hubs on the West Coast. The frigates would bring thousands of additional sailors and their families to Snohomish County, generate billions in economic activity, and cement Everett’s identity as a Navy town well into the 21st century.

    Then, on November 25, 2025, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan posted a message on social media: the Constellation-class frigate program was over.

    The cancellation sent shockwaves through the Everett community — and set off a scramble that’s still playing out today.

    What Happened to the Constellation-Class Frigates

    The Constellation-class frigate program, designated FFG-62, was supposed to be the Navy’s answer to a capability gap in its surface fleet: a capable, affordable, medium-sized warship that could be produced faster and cheaper than the larger DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Congress funded the program starting in 2020, and in 2021 the Navy selected Naval Station Everett as the future homeport for all 12 ships.

    The problems began almost immediately. Construction of the lead ship, USS Constellation (FFG-62), began at Fincantieri Marinette Marine’s shipyard in Wisconsin — but the program struggled from the start to complete its functional design. Without design stability, construction stalled. By May 2024, the Government Accountability Office found that the first ship was running approximately three years behind its original schedule, with delivery pushed to at least April 2029 instead of the originally planned July 2026.

    Costs climbed alongside the delays. The lead ship had gained nearly 759 tons of additional weight compared to original specifications, and the price tag ballooned. Secretary Phelan’s blunt assessment: “The Constellation-class frigate was canceled because, candidly, it didn’t make sense anymore to build it. It was 80 percent of the cost of a destroyer and 60 percent of the capability.”

    Construction on the first two ships — USS Constellation (FFG-62) and one follow-on hull — will continue to completion. But homeporting decisions for those ships have not been made, and may not be made until much closer to their eventual commissioning dates. The remaining ships on order have been cancelled entirely.

    What It Means for Everett

    Naval Station Everett currently employs approximately 6,000 military personnel and 500 civilian workers, making it one of Snohomish County’s largest employers. The base’s economic footprint touches everything from local housing markets to small businesses that cater to military families.

    The frigate program had been expected to dramatically expand that footprint. New personnel would have created demand for thousands of additional housing units, strained and eventually grown local schools, and generated ripple effects throughout the regional economy. The Navy had already secured $19 million from Congress to build 88 new family-style military homes at the Navy Support Complex in Smokey Point — 11 miles north of the main base in Marysville — specifically to prepare for the incoming frigate crews and their families. That construction was anticipated to begin in early 2026.

    With the program cancelled, the region now faces a more uncertain equation. The housing investment may still proceed, but the population surge that justified it is on hold. And the question of what Naval Station Everett’s long-term mission will look like — with or without new frigates — is very much unanswered.

    Everett Leaders Push Back

    The response from Snohomish County’s political and economic leadership has been forceful, if not always optimistic.

    Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), whose district includes Naval Station Everett and who has spent years advocating for the base on Capitol Hill, called the cancellation “disheartening” but immediately redirected his focus toward the future. In an interview in December 2025, Larsen said Naval Station Everett is “uniquely situated” to receive whatever next-generation frigates the Navy ultimately develops — pointing to the same geographic, logistical, and strategic advantages that originally made Everett the Navy’s choice for the Constellation-class ships.

    Larsen has since been pressing defense officials to ensure that Everett is at the front of the line when homeporting decisions are made for the Navy’s new FF(X) program — the replacement frigate concept based on the Coast Guard’s Legend-class National Security Cutter. Congress has already appropriated $242 million in long-lead funding for the first FF(X) ships, and the program is moving forward, though no homeporting decisions have been announced.

    On the local advocacy front, the Economic Alliance Snohomish County has re-activated its Military Affairs Committee — a group that had previously gone dormant — specifically to serve as what organizers called “a coordinated regional voice that understands both the national security implications and the local economic impacts” of decisions affecting the base. Representatives from the Port of Everett, the City of Everett, Snohomish County government, and the Economic Alliance have all been making trips to Washington, D.C., to make the case for Naval Station Everett’s continued relevance.

    The FF(X) Program: Everett’s Next Best Hope

    The Navy’s replacement frigate concept, officially called FF(X), represents a significant philosophical shift from the Constellation-class approach. Rather than designing an entirely new ship from scratch — the approach that led to the Constellation’s cost and timeline disasters — the FF(X) will be based on an existing, proven design: the Coast Guard’s 418-foot Legend-class National Security Cutter, built by Huntington Ingalls Industries.

    The theory is straightforward: use a design that’s already been built, add naval combat systems, and avoid the years of engineering uncertainty that plagued the Constellation program. The FF(X) program was announced in December 2025, with Huntington Ingalls Industries named as the builder.

    No homeporting decisions have been made. The first FF(X) ships won’t be ready for years. But the Navy’s shift to a more producible design gives Everett advocates something concrete to fight for — and a program that at least has a realistic path to completion.

    What the Base Means to This Community

    Beyond the economics and the politics, it’s worth pausing to remember what Naval Station Everett actually is: a community. Roughly 6,000 service members and their families live, work, and raise children in Snohomish County. They fill the bleachers at high school football games. They shop at local businesses. Their spouses navigate the particular challenges of military life — frequent moves, long deployments, career uncertainty — often far from extended family.

    The Everett Vet Center, located at 1010 SE Everett Mall Way, provides confidential counseling and support for veterans, service members, and their families. The Snohomish County Veterans’ Assistance Program serves as a single portal for veterans seeking help with emergency financial assistance, employment, and benefits navigation. These aren’t abstract institutions — they’re the connective tissue of a military community that has made its home here.

    Whatever happens with frigates and fleet allocations in the years ahead, that community isn’t going anywhere. The men and women of Naval Station Everett serve with distinction. Their families carry significant burdens with quiet strength. And the people of Everett have, by and large, embraced them as neighbors.

    That relationship is worth fighting for — which is exactly what Everett’s leaders say they intend to do.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Naval Station Everett at risk of closing?

    There are no current indications of closure. The base remains active with approximately 6,000 military personnel and 500 civilian employees. While the cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate program is a setback, local and congressional leaders are actively advocating for the base to receive future naval assets.

    What happened to the 12 frigates that were supposed to come to Everett?

    The Constellation-class frigate program was cancelled by the Secretary of the Navy in November 2025 due to construction delays and cost overruns. Only the first two ships (FFG-62 and FFG-63) will be completed; the remaining 10 planned ships have been cancelled.

    Will Everett still get new ships?

    It’s possible but not confirmed. The Navy has launched a new FF(X) frigate program based on the Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter design. No homeporting decisions have been made, but Rep. Rick Larsen and other local leaders are advocating for Naval Station Everett to be a priority homeport.

    What is the FF(X) frigate?

    The FF(X) is the Navy’s next-generation small surface combatant, intended to replace the cancelled Constellation-class. It will be built by Huntington Ingalls Industries and based on the Legend-class National Security Cutter design. Congress approved $242 million in long-lead funding for the program in early 2026.

    What military housing is being built near Naval Station Everett?

    Congress approved $19 million to construct 88 new family-style military homes at the Navy Support Complex in Smokey Point (Marysville), originally intended to house families of incoming frigate crews. The status of that construction in light of the frigate cancellation has not been formally announced.

    How does Naval Station Everett affect the local economy?

    The base employs approximately 6,000 military personnel and 500 civilian workers, making it one of Snohomish County’s largest employers. Military families’ spending, housing needs, and community engagement generate significant economic activity throughout the region.

    What is the Economic Alliance Snohomish County doing about the frigate cancellation?

    The Economic Alliance has reactivated its Military Affairs Committee to advocate for the base at the federal level, coordinating with the Port of Everett, City of Everett, and Snohomish County to present a unified regional voice in Washington, D.C.

    See also: NAVSTA Everett After the Frigate Collapse: What the Base Fights For Next | What the Frigate Cancellation Means for Military Families at NAVSTA Everett

  • Boeing 777X Production Flight: April 2026 at Paine Field

    Boeing 777X Production Flight: April 2026 at Paine Field

    A Milestone Years in the Making

    What is the Boeing 777X first production flight? Boeing is targeting April 2026 for the first flight of a production-configured 777-9 aircraft from Paine Field in Everett, Washington. This milestone — the first time a delivery-standard 777X will take to the air — is a required step in the FAA certification process for the world’s largest twin-engine passenger jet.

    After more than six years of delays, billions in development charges, and enough setbacks to fill a book, Boeing’s 777X program is approaching a moment the aviation world has been waiting for: the first flight of an actual production aircraft.

    Boeing is targeting April 2026 for that flight, which will originate from Paine Field in Everett — the same airfield where generations of Boeing widebody jets have taken their first steps into the sky. The aircraft is a 777-9 variant, destined for launch customer Lufthansa, and it has been undergoing fuel system checks and engine testing at Boeing’s fuel docks on the Paine Field flight line.

    For Everett, this is more than an aviation industry milestone. It’s a reminder of why this city, this campus, and this workforce matter to global aviation.

    What Makes This Flight Different

    Boeing has been flying 777X test aircraft for years. The first 777X flight happened in January 2020, and the company has accumulated thousands of hours of test flight data with a fleet of prototype aircraft. But those earlier jets were built specifically for testing — modified from production-standard in various ways to support the certification process.

    This April flight would be different. The aircraft scheduled to take off from Paine Field is a production-configured 777-9 — built to the same specification as jets that would eventually carry passengers. Regulators require this step. The FAA must see a delivery-standard aircraft fly before it can grant Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) for production jets, which would then allow FAA pilots to enter the cockpit for the final stages of certification flying.

    In simple terms: all the test flying done up to this point has been prologue. The April flight is where the certification clock really starts ticking on a production 777X.

    The 777X: What It Is

    The 777-9 is the larger of two planned 777X variants (the smaller 777-8 will follow later). It is, by most measures, the most capable large twin-engine passenger jet ever designed.

    The aircraft spans 71.8 meters in wingspan — but its distinctive folding wingtips retract to 64.8 meters for gate compatibility at airports not built for a jet this size. It is powered by the GE9X engine, currently the world’s largest commercial turbofan. A typical 777-9 configuration seats around 426 passengers in a two-class layout, though airline configurations will vary.

    Airlines including Emirates, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Cathay Pacific have been waiting on 777X orders. The aircraft has more than 540 firm orders — a backlog that represents hundreds of billions of dollars in potential revenue for Boeing, if and when the program achieves certification and delivery.

    The Road That Got Here

    Honesty requires acknowledging how difficult the path to this April moment has been. The 777X was originally projected to enter service in 2020. It is now expected to reach airlines no earlier than 2027 — a seven-year slip from initial projections.

    The delays have accumulated from multiple directions. A GE9X engine blade issue discovered during early testing required design changes and grounding of the test fleet. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the aviation market so severely that Boeing and airlines briefly discussed delaying the program voluntarily. The global 737 MAX crisis — stemming from two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 — consumed enormous company and regulatory bandwidth, slowing every program Boeing was running. And then came the 2024 IAM machinists’ strike, which idled the Everett factory for weeks during a critical phase.

    The program has generated more than $15 billion in development charges, making it one of the most expensive commercial aircraft development programs in history.

    Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has been characteristically candid about where the program stands. “The mountain of work is still there,” he acknowledged in recent months, noting that the company is “falling behind on certification.” Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr has publicly confirmed that his airline does not expect 777X delivery until Q1 2027 at the earliest.

    What April Means — And What It Doesn’t

    A successful April production flight would not mean the 777X is certified. It would not mean deliveries are imminent. What it would mean is that Boeing has cleared one of the final procedural hurdles required before the FAA can assign its pilots to conduct the certification test flights that form the basis of a type certificate.

    If the flight goes well, Boeing expects the FAA to grant TIA for production-configured aircraft by the second half of 2026. That would enable a final certification push — additional flight hours, systems testing, and the formal regulatory review — that Boeing hopes concludes before the end of 2026. Delivery to Lufthansa, pending airline readiness and the logistics of preparing the first handover aircraft, would then follow in early 2027.

    There is also a GE Aerospace engine matter in the background — a potential component issue that was flagged recently. Boeing and GE have both indicated they do not expect it to affect the 2027 delivery timeline, but it is worth monitoring.

    Paine Field: Where History Gets Made

    The choice of location — Paine Field — is not incidental. Boeing’s Everett factory has a runway complex capable of handling the world’s heaviest commercial aircraft, and it is where virtually every Boeing widebody has made its first flight. The 747’s inaugural flight departed from here in 1969. The 777’s first flight was here in 1994. The 787’s first flight lifted off from Paine Field in 2009.

    The 777X’s production first flight will add another chapter to that history. For Everett residents who have grown up watching enormous jets bank over the Cascade foothills on their way back around for landing, April could bring one of those days worth watching the sky.

    The Everett Workforce Behind the 777X

    The production 777-9 sitting at Boeing’s Paine Field fuel docks didn’t assemble itself. It was built by the machinists, engineers, quality inspectors, and support workers who make up the Everett campus workforce — members of IAM District 751 and SPEEA, the engineers’ union, along with thousands of non-union Boeing employees.

    The 777X has been a complex program for the Everett workforce, not only because of the jet’s technical ambitions but because of the uncertainty that prolonged delays create for workers and their families. Every month of slip means months more of holding pattern — not knowing when hiring will accelerate, when overtime will be available, when the program’s full production rhythm will arrive.

    A successful April production flight doesn’t resolve that uncertainty overnight. But it is a real step toward the moment when the 777X transitions from an aspirational program to a delivering one — and when the Everett factory’s newest and most capable jet becomes part of the daily rhythm of this city’s most defining industry.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When will the Boeing 777X first production flight happen?
    Boeing is targeting April 2026 for the first flight of a production-configured 777-9 from Paine Field in Everett, Washington. The exact date has not been publicly announced.

    What is the difference between this flight and earlier 777X test flights?
    Previous 777X flights used prototype aircraft built specifically for testing. This April flight involves a production-standard 777-9 — built to the same specification as jets intended for airline delivery. Regulators require this step before FAA pilots can join the cockpit for final certification flights.

    Who is the launch customer for the 777X?
    Lufthansa is the 777X launch customer. The German airline’s CEO has confirmed they do not expect delivery until Q1 2027 at the earliest.

    When will the 777X be certified and enter service?
    Boeing expects FAA certification in late 2026 and first deliveries to airlines in early 2027, pending a successful production flight and completion of remaining certification test flying.

    Why has the 777X been delayed so many times?
    The program has faced compounding challenges: a GE9X engine blade issue, COVID-19 market disruption, the diversion of Boeing resources to address the 737 MAX crisis, and the 2024 machinists’ strike. Development charges have exceeded $15 billion.

    Where is the 777X built?
    The 777X is assembled at Boeing’s Everett factory — the world’s largest building by volume — adjacent to Paine Field in Everett, Washington. It employs thousands of Snohomish County workers.

    How many 777X orders does Boeing have?
    Boeing has more than 540 firm orders for the 777X from airlines including Emirates, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Cathay Pacific.

  • Boeing North Line: Everett 737 MAX Production Opened July 2026

    Boeing North Line: Everett 737 MAX Production Opened July 2026

    A New Era of Manufacturing Takes Shape in Everett

    What is Boeing’s North Line? The North Line is Boeing’s fourth 737 MAX assembly line at the Everett factory — the first time 737s have ever been assembled in Everett. It opened and began low-rate initial production in July 2026 (Boeing July 10 feature; July 14 opening), with capacity planned toward more than 47 aircraft per month.

    Something significant is taking shape on the north end of Boeing’s massive Everett campus. Among the widebody jets that have long defined this facility — the 747s, 767s, 777s, and the towering 777X — a new kind of production work is beginning. For the first time in the history of the world’s largest building by volume, workers are preparing to assemble 737 MAX narrowbody jets.

    Boeing’s “North Line” — a fourth 737 MAX assembly line being stood up inside the Everett factory — opened in July 2026 (April readiness feature; July production feature). April 2026 reporting gave the clearest pre-open picture of how that effort was progressing. Production leader Jennifer Boland-Masterson described the approach plainly: “We know how to do it… but we need to warm up our muscles. You don’t start with a marathon.”

    Why Everett? Why Now?

    The short answer is capacity. Boeing’s existing three 737 MAX lines all run out of its Renton, Washington facility — a plant that has been the sole home of 737 production since the original 737 first flew in 1967. As Boeing pushes to reach and eventually surpass a production rate of 47 aircraft per month, Renton alone cannot absorb the volume. The Everett campus, home to the widebody programs, has the physical space, the skilled workforce, and the infrastructure to take on the load.

    The longer answer involves Boeing’s recovery from one of the most turbulent stretches in its history. The 2024 IAM machinists’ strike — which idled production for nearly seven weeks — and ongoing FAA production rate caps have forced the company to rebuild methodically. The North Line isn’t just about adding jets off the end of an assembly process; it’s about demonstrating to regulators, customers, and the public that Boeing can scale quality manufacturing safely.

    The People Making It Happen

    The North Line workforce is being built from three sources: newly hired employees, experienced workers transferring from Renton, and veterans already on the Everett campus.

    Among the first hired are Jaden Myers and Alondra Ponce, who joined the program in late 2025. Myers captured the weight of the moment: “Opening a new production line is something special. So, we have to do it right.” Ponce noted the quality of the onboarding experience: “Training was so positive and refreshing… My managers and the coaches were always there.”

    New hires begin with 12 weeks of foundational training — much of it conducted in Renton, where they work alongside experienced mechanics on active 737 production before transitioning to Everett. The approach is intentional: Boeing wants North Line workers absorbing muscle memory from people who have built thousands of these planes, not just learning from manuals.

    The program also leans on institutional knowledge already inside Everett. John V., a nearly 40-year Boeing veteran who spent years in a quality coaching role, is among those transitioning to support the North Line. “This will be my first time working on the 737 program,” he said. “But we are doing the training right.”

    What the North Line Will Build

    The line will be capable of assembling all 737 MAX variants — the MAX 8, MAX 9, and MAX 10 — though it will begin with a low-rate initial production (LRIP) phase that prioritizes quality checks over throughput. Boeing is also introducing the 737 Wing Transport Tool to the Everett operation, a piece of tooling that ferries partially completed wings from suppliers into the final assembly process — replicating how the Renton line works, now inside the Everett footprint.

    Once the LRIP phase is complete and the line is integrated into Boeing’s overall 737 MAX production flow, the North Line will add meaningful capacity toward the company’s stated rate targets. Boeing has set 47 jets per month across all 737 lines as a near-term milestone, with longer-term ambitions reaching 63 aircraft per month when all four lines are running at full tempo. The 47/month target — once forecast for 2026 — has been pushed to 2027, a timeline that reflects both the deliberate ramp pace and ongoing FAA oversight requirements.

    What It Means for Everett

    Boeing’s Everett campus already employs more than 30,000 people, making it the single largest employer in Snohomish County and one of the most consequential job centers in the state of Washington. The North Line adds to that count — but the significance runs deeper than headcount.

    For decades, Everett’s Boeing identity has been synonymous with widebody jets: the enormous 747, the freighter-capable 767, the long-range 777, and now the 777X. The addition of 737 narrowbody production shifts Everett’s manufacturing profile. It means more job classifications, more union-represented roles under the IAM District 751 contract, and a broader base of production activity that makes the campus less vulnerable to any single program’s fluctuations.

    For the workers being hired into the program today — many of them Snohomish County residents who will drive to the Paine Field campus rather than commute to Renton — the North Line represents exactly what Everett has needed: new manufacturing jobs, on the doorstep, inside one of the most iconic industrial facilities in the world.

    The Bigger Picture

    Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg toured the North Line earlier this month, a visible signal of executive attention on a program that carries considerable symbolic weight. The company is in a recovery phase — rebuilding production quality, restoring regulator confidence, and delivering on commitments to customers who have been waiting on aircraft orders for years. The North Line must go well.

    Boland-Masterson’s marathon analogy holds. Boeing isn’t sprinting out of the gate in Everett. The LRIP phase will likely last several months before the line transitions to standard production flow. Every airplane that rolls off the North Line in its early phase will be inspected rigorously, and the rate will climb only when quality data supports it.

    That measured approach may test the patience of airlines — Ryanair, Alaska Airlines, and others with large MAX backlogs — but it’s the right call for a program that can’t afford another quality headline. Everett’s North Line team knows that. The new hires know it. The veterans who’ve spent careers here know it.

    “You don’t start with a marathon.” In Everett this summer, Boeing is lacing up its shoes.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is Boeing building on the North Line in Everett?
    The North Line will produce 737 MAX narrowbody jets — all variants (MAX 8, MAX 9, and MAX 10) — marking the first time 737s have been assembled at the Everett factory.

    When will the North Line start production?
    Boeing is opened the North Line in July 2026 and began low-rate initial production (Boeing July feature).

    Why is Boeing adding a 737 production line in Everett?
    Boeing needs additional production capacity to reach and sustain 737 MAX rates above 47 aircraft per month. The Renton facility, which currently builds all 737s, cannot absorb that volume alone. Everett has the space, workforce, and infrastructure to support expansion.

    How many workers will the North Line employ?
    Boeing is hiring hundreds of workers for the North Line, drawing from new hires, existing Renton employees transferring to Everett, and experienced Everett campus workers adding 737 responsibilities.

    How are North Line workers being trained?
    New employees complete 12 weeks of foundational training, including hands-on time in Renton working alongside experienced 737 mechanics, before transitioning to the Everett North Line.

    What is the FAA’s role in the North Line ramp-up?
    The FAA has production rate oversight authority over Boeing’s 737 operations. The North Line will begin in a low-rate initial production (LRIP) phase with additional quality checks before being integrated into Boeing’s standard production flow — a process that requires FAA alignment.

    Does the North Line affect Boeing’s Everett widebody programs?
    The 737 program operates in a separate section of the Everett factory and does not directly impact widebody assembly (767, 777, 777X). Boeing has described the campus footprint as having capacity to accommodate both narrowbody and widebody work simultaneously.

    See also: Boeing’s North Line: What 737 MAX Production Means for the Whole Region | Boeing North Line: What It Means If You Work at Paine Field

  • Tapped Public House Everett Opens at Waterfront Place

    Tapped Public House Everett Opens at Waterfront Place

    Q: What just opened at the Port of Everett waterfront?
    A: Tapped Public House opened March 2, 2026 at Waterfront Place Restaurant Row, bringing craft beer, Pacific Northwest cuisine, and the largest open-air rooftop deck on the Snohomish County waterfront.

    We have been watching the Restaurant Row building at the Port of Everett Waterfront Place take shape for months, and on March 2nd, the second tenant officially swung open its doors. Tapped Public House held a ribbon cutting that drew more than 100 people to the waterfront, and if the buzz that evening was any indication, this spot is going to be a fixture on Everett’s dining scene all summer long.

    The new Tapped location sits on the second floor of the Restaurant Row building at Waterfront Place — the same building that houses Rustic Cork Wine Bar and Menchie’s at the Marina at street level. Walk upstairs and you find yourself looking out through floor-to-ceiling windows at Port of Everett Marina and Possession Sound. On warmer days, roll-up garage doors open the space completely to the outside. And then there is the rooftop deck — reportedly the largest open-air waterfront rooftop deck in Snohomish County.

    What Is Tapped Public House?

    If you have not been to one of the other three Tapped locations in Camano Island, Mill Creek, or Mukilteo, here is the short version: it is a craft beer-focused public house that takes its food seriously. The Everett location continues that tradition with a scratch kitchen turning out Pacific Northwest-inspired dishes, alongside craft beer, cider, wine, and other beverages curated for the setting. The vibe is casual enough for a post-hike beer and refined enough for a date night.

    The Everett outpost is the brand’s fourth location, and based on what we are hearing, the Port of Everett waterfront may be its most dramatic backdrop yet. The combination of marina views, the rooftop experience, and the proximity to other Waterfront Place destinations makes this a natural anchor tenant for what the Port has been building out along Restaurant Row.

    The Bigger Picture: Restaurant Row Is Taking Shape

    Tapped Public House did not open in a vacuum. It is part of a deliberate buildout that the Port of Everett has been executing along its Waterfront Place mixed-use development — a 65-acre, 1.5-million-square-foot project that represents years of planning and investment. The Port has been methodically filling the Restaurant Row building, and the pieces are coming together.

    Rustic Cork Wine Bar was the first tenant announced for Restaurant Row, establishing the wine-and-small-plates anchor. Menchie’s at the Marina adds the dessert and family-friendly dimension. And Tapped Public House brings the craft beer and full-menu draw that pulls a broader dinner crowd. Together, these three tenants cover a meaningful amount of the dining occasion spectrum without competing directly with each other.

    But there is still one major opening left. The Port of Everett has publicly confirmed it is searching for a flagship dining tenant to occupy the final available parcel along Restaurant Row — specifically, the Port is seeking a high-end steakhouse or experiential dining concept to anchor the waterfront dining scene. That search is ongoing as of April 2026, and whoever lands that lease will be walking into an increasingly established dining corridor with built-in foot traffic from the marina and the surrounding Waterfront Place amenities.

    Getting There and Getting Around

    Tapped Public House is located at the Port of Everett Waterfront Place, in the Craftsman District of the development. If you have not been out to Waterfront Place recently, this spring is a good time to make the trip. The Port has also been expanding its free waterfront shuttle service, now rebranded as the Trawley, with plans for year-round operation and expanded capacity coming this season. Parking is available in the Port’s two-hour free zones, and the Trawley provides a free loop connecting the key Waterfront Place destinations.

    We stopped by the area recently and the energy is noticeably different from even a year ago. The marina is full, the Restaurant Row building looks sharp, and having actual functioning restaurants with people dining in them changes how the whole development feels. It is starting to look like the vision the Port has been pitching for years.

    What We Are Watching Next

    The flagship dining search is still open: the Port is actively looking for a high-end steakhouse or experiential dining operator for the final Restaurant Row parcel. This is the capstone tenant that would complete the Restaurant Row vision.

    S3 Maritime also recently opened its Port of Everett facility at 1205 Craftsman Way, Suite 107 in the Craftsman District in early March. It brings over 2,600 square feet of marine repair, refit, and technical services to the port — another piece of the commercial ecosystem the Port has been assembling alongside the dining and retail tenants.

    And the Trawley expansion is coming: the Port plans year-round service with added capacity this spring. For visitors who want to park once and explore the whole waterfront without moving their car, the Trawley makes Waterfront Place significantly more accessible.

    Why This Matters for Downtown Everett

    A single restaurant opening is not a transformation. But the sequence of openings at Waterfront Place over the past 18 months — viewed together — tells a story of a major public-private development actually delivering on its promises. The early phases involved infrastructure, marina expansion, and capital projects that do not generate foot traffic. Now, in early 2026, we are watching the public-facing layer of the project come alive: dining, retail, marine services, the shuttle. These are the elements that turn a development project into a destination.

    Tapped Public House and its rooftop deck opening in March is not the headline of the Waterfront Place story — it is one more confirmed chapter. The question we are watching: who lands the flagship steakhouse parcel, and when?

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where exactly is Tapped Public House at the Port of Everett?

    Tapped Public House is on the second floor of the Restaurant Row building at Port of Everett Waterfront Place, in the Craftsman District of the development.

    When did Tapped Public House open at the Port of Everett?

    Tapped Public House held its grand opening on March 2, 2026 with a ribbon cutting attended by over 100 people.

    What is the Trawley shuttle at the Port of Everett?

    The Trawley is the Port of Everett’s free waterfront shuttle service that connects key Waterfront Place destinations. In 2026, the Port is expanding it to year-round service with added capacity.

    Who else is in the Restaurant Row building at Waterfront Place?

    The Restaurant Row building houses Rustic Cork Wine Bar and Menchie’s at the Marina at street level, with Tapped Public House on the second floor. The Port is still searching for a flagship dining tenant for the final available parcel.

    What is the Port of Everett Waterfront Place development?

    Waterfront Place is a 65-acre, 1.5-million-square-foot mixed-use development at the Port of Everett. It includes the largest public marina on the West Coast with 2,300 slips, plus dining, retail, marine services, and public waterfront amenities.

    Is there free parking at Port of Everett Waterfront Place?

    Yes. The Port offers two-hour free parking zones and the free Trawley shuttle to help visitors navigate the waterfront without moving their car.


  • Everett Local News: Exploring Culture, Business & Community

    Everett Local News: Exploring Culture, Business & Community

    Everett is changing fast. A $1 billion waterfront redevelopment. Paine Field going commercial. Boeing’s future uncertain and fascinating at the same time. A downtown that’s finally getting interesting.

    This is Tygart Media’s coverage hub for Everett, Washington — hyperlocal news, business, culture, and community from Snohomish County’s largest city.

    What We Cover

    • Waterfront & Development — The Port of Everett’s transformation, new construction, what’s coming to the waterfront
    • Boeing & Aerospace — Paine Field, the workforce, production news, and aerospace industry trends
    • Business — Openings, closings, local profiles, and Everett’s economic story
    • Arts & Culture — Theater, music, murals, and the creative scene
    • Food & Drink — Restaurants, breweries, coffee, and the local dining landscape
    • Neighborhoods — Downtown, Riverside, Silver Lake, Bayside, and beyond
    • Real Estate — Market trends, waterfront development impact, housing news
    • Government & Policy — City council, mayor, public decisions that affect residents
    • Schools & Youth — Everett School District, youth programs, family resources
    • Outdoors — Jetty Island, parks, trails, waterfront recreation

    Exploring Everett content is also published at exploringeverett.com.