When Kingston residents first heard that breakfast was not making its triumphant return to their community as hoped — and by breakfast we mean, of course, the Kingston Inn — the response was not one of shock but rather resignation.

Apparently no one outside of the investors and property owner really thought high-end condos in the downtown corridor would fly. They didn’t, despite the fact that minutes away in White Horse, $800,000+ homes are the norm. Of course, they are on a golf course and not along state highway/main street that is flooded with traffic much of the year.

The end result, is that getting a big, family-style breakfast in the North End might just be a thing of the past. Mitzel’s is on its way back to Poulsbo Village (thank goodness), but the Kingston Inn is gone “forever.”

Let’s get to it, neither establishment was considered “fine dining.” But being able to pour over 25 reasonably-priced breakfast entrees at 9 a.m., while having your cup of coffee refilled like clockwork, and friends and family in the same booth has an appeal all its own.

And while Poulsbo’s cup will runneth over again when Mitzel’s reopens this year, it seems that North End diners will be flipping their own flapjacks into an uncertain future. Certainly there’s nothing wrong with making your own breakfast but — as we all know — there is something special about having someone else do it for you. And the dishes to boot.

It’s no wonder both eateries were so popular.

Even so, with only one returning for sure, the North End is still waiting for a entrepreneur to step up the plate as the prospect of a good breakfast is as alluring as a 35 minute drive to get it is repulsive.

Kingston needs its own place again, no question. A place where booths upon booths of neighbors can enjoy a meal and share a knowing smile that their food is on its way and the only dishes they’ll face that day are the ones in their own kitchen sink.