BREMERTON — The “good weather, good times and good profit” Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent said the community was waiting for arrived at 4 p.m. on April 21.

It came with family, friends and community members gathered around pizza, cake and homemade peanut butter cookies.

And it came with the ribbon cutting for the grand reopening of Motel 6.

On Aug. 18, 2015, a gas explosion destroyed much of the motel, located off of Kitsap Way. Now, after a year and a half and about $2 million worth of reconstruction and renovation, Motel 6 is reopened.

“This is good,” franchise owner Ramesh Rabadia said. “It took a long time and hard work. It was very difficult.”

His business partner, Hari Ghadia, said the “local support was wonderful.”

“We really enjoyed everybody’s support,” Ghadia said. “We’re really thankful for it.”

Miss Silverdale 2017, the mayor, members of the chamber of commerce, and friends and family of Rabadia and Ghadia attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Motel 6.

Bremerton Chamber of Commerce board member Sharon Smith said she was glad, “genuinely, from my heart, that they have persisted throughout all the struggle. It’s good to see them be here and supporting the community.”

Ghadia said, “I think after the damage we had, the extent of the damage, it’s been a long and hard road, but we finally did it. And I think this is good for the community. It’s going to be good for the city. It’s one more place, brand new and pretty comfortable. And we’re looking forward to serving the local community.”

For more information about the reconstruction of Bremerton’s Motel 6, read previous Kitsap News Group coverage at goo.gl/XLxvNy or visit www.facebook.com/Motel6Bremerton.

— Michelle Beahm is a reporter for Kitsap News Group. She can be reached at mbeahm@soundpublish ing.com.