What ever happened to that mystery tenant at Olhava? Some of us are wondering, and rightly so, whether the yet-to-be-named mega store is still enroute to the North Kitsap neighborhood.

Even so, promoters of the secret tenant have been hush on the topic — likely waiting to unveil the monster when the public isn’t paying much attention.

If this store is indeed a Wal-Mart, and the cover-of-night tactics being used certainly point in old Sam Walton’s direction, then small businesses had better watch their wallets.

It wasn’t too long ago that some Kingston business owners said they weren’t intimidated by the idea of having such a neighbor. They should be.

Wal-Mart’s track record for wiping people like them off the map is horrendous. Yet there is no real organized opposition to the idea.

Why aren’t the chambers of commerce speaking out against the mega store concept? Why isn’t the Historic Downtown Poulsbo Business Association taking an official stance on the matter? Why isn’t anyone being proactive?

It doesn’t make sense. It won’t do us any good to try to close the door once old Sam’s enormous foot is in it either. Many have tried and if we wait for the “official announcement,” we’ve waited too long.

If Poulsbo and its neighbors don’t wake up and smell the coffee soon, falling prices and an innocent smiling face might just make our dreamy little community into a low-wage, ghost town nightmare.