Photo: Murals welcome visitors to beautiful Gig Harbor.

By Carrianne Ekberg, Executive Director, Gig Harbor Waterfront Alliance

Growing up in Gig Harbor, I never imagined that I would one day get to help shape and care for my hometown. My family owned the Shoreline Restaurant on the waterfront for more than 20 years—right where Anthony’s now sits—and I spent much of my childhood learning the ins and outs of what it means to own a small business and watching the community grow. Now, as Executive Director of the Gig Harbor Waterfront Alliance, I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to give back to the community that helped raise me.

My husband and I both grew up here, and we’re now raising our own kids in this same small town. That personal connection to place informs everything we do at the Alliance. We understand the power of a walkable district, a familiar face, and a vibrant historic waterfront district filled with local businesses. We’ve seen firsthand what it means when Main Street thrives—not just economically, but emotionally. It becomes the heartbeat of a community.

Over the past decade, the Gig Harbor Waterfront Alliance has evolved from a small, volunteer-driven organization to a Main Street powerhouse making a real impact. We’ve championed streetscape improvements, flower basket programs, and public art murals; brought new energy to community traditions; and worked side-by-side with small business owners through thick and thin. From holiday events that draw thousands to Thursday afternoon farmers markets that feel like true community gatherings, we’ve made it our mission to protect what makes the waterfront district so beloved—while also helping it grow into something even better.

The Gig Harbor Farmers Market is a weekly fixture on the waterfront.

The Gig Harbor BoatShop offers opportunities to get hands-on with maritime traditions like boatbuilding.

In the past few years, we’ve tackled some ambitious new projects. We launched our first-ever small business grant program—funded through a grassroots fundraiser—to help boost our local entrepreneurs. We’ve invested in placemaking efforts like historic home signage, roofline lighting projects, and landscaping projects that reflect the unique character of Gig Harbor and keep it beautiful. We’ve partnered with local artists, youth groups, and schools to infuse the waterfront with a sense of shared pride and creativity.

Collaboration has become one of our strongest tools. Whether we’re working with tourism partners, our local chamber, the City of Gig Harbor, or local community organizations like Rotary and Kiwanis, we’ve embraced the belief that we can do more together. That spirit shows up in everything from joint volunteer efforts to joint clean-up days.

What makes Gig Harbor so special isn’t just the view—though the boats in the harbor and the sight of Mount Rainier never get old. It’s the people who wave hello when they pass you on the sidewalk. It’s the businesses that remember your name and your favorite coffee order. It’s the way this place manages to feel like home, even if you’re just visiting for the weekend.

The Gig Harbor Waterfront Alliance is proud to carry forward a legacy shaped by a maritime heritage that still holds strong today, by small business owners and by a community that cares. Our work continues, and our commitment remains: to honor the past while building a vibrant, welcoming waterfront for the future.

A local walking tour pops in to explore Heritage Distilling downtown.

Local small businesses celebrate the town’s maritime identity…

…While keeping things whimsical.

All photos courtesy of the Gig Harbor Waterfront Alliance.