05/26/2026
Community Over Competition:
There’s something I need to say — not to create drama, not to attack anyone, and not because I enjoy sharing difficult experiences publicly… but because I think small business owners in our community deserve transparency and better protection.
Over the last few months, I began the process of relocating and expanding my wellness business here in Port Orchard after finding a beautiful historic commercial space publicly listed and sitting vacant since last summer.
What followed was months of planning, paperwork, financial investment, and emotional energy.
I began the process in March. I paid for permits and received approval through the city, signed and notarized my portion of the lease, paid my security deposit and first month’s rent, coordinated with local businesses and contractors on custom pieces for the new spa, informed 200+ clients that Wild Moon would be relocating and growing, scheduled movers, and started building what I truly believed was going to be the next chapter of my business.
Just weeks before my scheduled move, I received a phone call — not from the building owner or future landlord directly, but from the listing contact — informing me that after all of this, the landlord had suddenly decided to speak with another tenant in the building, a hair salon, who now wanted to expand into the vacant space and add massage services themselves.
To this day, I have still not received a direct phone call, apology, accountability, or explanation from the building owner.
And honestly, that part hurts the most.
Not because plans changed — business is business, and I understand that. But because conversations that should have happened before publicly listing and pursuing a lease with another small business owner apparently never happened at all.
What made this even more disheartening was being offered money in exchange for signing an NDA regarding the situation.
I will not be silenced for speaking honestly about the realities small business owners face.
Especially in a town where operating a small business already comes with so many obstacles. Between permitting processes, rising costs, limited commercial space, and the constant uphill battle many of us face simply trying to grow responsibly and ethically, the City of Port Orchard already makes things difficult enough on local businesses trying to survive and expand.
We should not also have to fear being disregarded after investing months of work, thousands of dollars, and the trust of our clients and collaborators.
Moving and growing a business is not casual. It takes enormous amounts of time, money, energy, coordination, trust, and sacrifice. For many of us, this is not a hobby. This is our livelihood.
I’ve intentionally built my wellness business in this community for the last 7 years. I was raised here. My family has spent decades serving this city. I have poured my heart, time, energy, and resources back into this community because I genuinely love Port Orchard and believe in the people here.
I have always chosen collaboration over competition.
I celebrate other small businesses.
I refer clients out constantly.
I support local whenever I can.
And I truly believe small businesses are the foundation of a strong community.
That’s why this experience has been so heartbreaking.
Small businesses are already navigating burnout, uncertainty, financial pressure, and survival every single day. We should not be making it harder on one another. We should be communicating better, supporting one another, and treating people with professionalism, transparency, and respect.
I’m sharing this because I don’t want another small business owner to go through something similar without understanding how vulnerable these situations can become, even deep into the process.
Please protect yourselves.
Get everything in writing.
Ask hard questions.
Advocate for yourself.
And if you are in a position of power in this community — whether as a landlord, property owner, broker, or business owner — please remember there are real human beings and livelihoods attached to these decisions.
No matter where Wild Moon’s long-term home ends up being, I will always love and support this community. Port Orchard will always be part of my story, and I will continue advocating for the small businesses that make this town special.
I still believe in community.
I still believe in small business.
And I still believe we can do better for one another.
-Heather
