PORT GAMBLE — They might have called it a “soft opening,” but the Port Gamble General Store’s new bar got hit pretty hard when it first opened its doors on May 9.

“We were slammed,” said Kim Campbell, owner of the General Store.

Campbell credited their Facebook page, and Valholl Brewing’s Facebook page for attracting the opening crowd.

“We put it out that we had an opening, and we had a pretty good mix of their customers and ours,” she said. “The bar was full. It was like you were trying to slither through people.”

Despite the soft opening, the bar is not yet complete. Liquor shelves will soon be installed to support a full bar, above 24 taps of local beer.

Local beer was a hit at the opening. The taps offer selections from Puget Sound’s finest craft breweries, such as Sound Brewery, Bainbridge Island Brewing, and others from Gig Harbor, Port Townsend, Seattle and more.

Valholl’s locally brewed and rather balanced IPA proved to be the night’s top seller.

“The Brew Bitch (IPA) sold the fastest,” Campbell said of opening night.

The bar will continue to come together in the next few weeks, but the opening made a good impression. In the mean time, beer is being poured, and wine is being served.

“I think every one was really happy,” Campbell said. “I think they were impressed with what we did with the space, especially if you knew it as an office space.”

Until recently, the space was used as offices for Pope Resources, which owns Port Gamble.

The bar isn’t the only addition to the Port Gamble attraction. The space also opened up a new dining room. The menu for the General Store remains the same, but now there is more room to enjoy it. Not to mention the ample light that fills the dining room and bar.

The dining room is open every day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for lunch. It is also open Thursday through Sunday from 5-8:30 p.m. for dinner.