PORT TOWNSEND — Washington State Ferries rejected a landmark hotel and restaurant’s proposal to serve food on the Port Townsend-Keystone route, but the restaurant’s owner thinks there could be a more positive decision in the future.
“We’re still in the game,” said The Belmont owner Rick Unrue after learning of the decision Friday afternoon.
“We’ll wait and see what they need for us to provide in order to work this out.”
Ferry system officials chose Cascade Concession Services of Vancouver, Wash., and Sound Food Cafe, Bakery & Wine Bar of Vashon Island to provide food service on certain ferry routes — but not the Port Townsend-Keystone ferry.
The two companies outbid Sodexho USA, the former food concessionaire.
Sodexho ended its food service on all state ferries at the end of 2003, saying it was losing money on the contract but wanted only the lucrative ones.
Cascade will provide food service for the Seattle-Bremerton, Seattle-Bainbridge, Edmonds-Kingston and Anacortes-San Juan Islands routes.
Sound Food will provide service for the Fauntleroy-Southworth route, which more closely resembles the Port Townsend-Keystone route.