Choose the finish · Vashon town

As the crow flies9.8 mifrom downtown Gig Harbor · Jerisich DockThe Hardware Store, 17601 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon, WA, 98070, USA · named venue or place · not route miles

The Hardware Store

Broad menu, full bar and central location; trivia is on the patio Saturday.

E-bike friendlyRain optionCheck availabilitytalkindulge

Where it is

No substitute photograph. Here is the real map.

An exact-match venue or event photograph has not been audited for this item, so the site shows a location map instead of borrowing an unrelated category image.

WhenFri 11-3 and 5-9; Sat 9-11, 11-3 and 5-9; Sun 9-11, 11-3 and 5-8.
Cost$$-$$$
AllowAllow 60-90 minutes.
WeatherRain friendly

Candid priority · #277 of 439

Why this sits where it does.

The upside

Broad menu, full bar and central location; trivia is on the patio Saturday. strong shared-experience fit, weather-safe; limited visual proof.

The tradeoff

Check the official page before leaving; call when walk-in capacity matters.

This item remains in the enrichment queue; its verified short record is live now.

Why it could work for the two of you

Broad menu, full bar and central location; trivia is on the patio Saturday.

Island institution in a restored hardware building, serving chowder, crab cakes, burgers, fish and cocktails.

Conversation friendliness

high

Planning commitment

low

Make it a mini-date

Split chowder and crab cakes before trivia or theater.

Distance, night return, and tender reality

Road / marine contextMarine/ferry routing varies; central-island stops are often 5–14 road miles from Dockton or Tahlequah
Best boat baseDockton or another confirmed Vashon berth/anchorage
From that baseIsland distances are meaningful even when they look short; hills and sparse services change the trip
Ride/cab planning range$28–$55 · 16–28 min · planning range, not live quote
In daylight

Use the e-bikes in daylight with a battery reserve and a fixed turnaround time.

After dark

Do not bike Vashon's dark rural roads after sunset.

Dinghy landing

Dockton Park Marina transient spaces: Useful south-Vashon base if King County confirms where a visiting tender belongs and how late pedestrians may return. The annual dinghy cleats are not visitor parking.

Verified marine-access recordDockton Park Marina transient spacesCall and confirm before relying on it

Twenty dinghy cleats exist, but the official page describes them as yearly assigned dinghy moorage. A visitor must not take an unassigned cleat. Ask whether a regular transient space may be used and pay the ordinary overnight fee when applicable.

Hours / return constraint: Park hours are dawn-dusk, while the marina expressly supports overnight stays and has a self-service kiosk. The official page does not explain after-hours pedestrian gate access; confirm before planning a late return.

  • DO NOT ASSUME an empty dinghy cleat is available; the official program assigns them annually.
  • DO NOT ASSUME after-hours pedestrian access because overnight boat moorage exists.
  • DO NOT ASSUME a rideshare driver will be available for the return; Vashon supply is sparse.
Verified route rangeDockton Park MarinaVashon town center
16–28 minutes$28–$55high availability risk

Prearrange both directions. Do not depart Dockton without a confirmed return driver and a confirmed after-hours marina-access plan.

Taxi backup: No dependable island taxi dispatch was verified; treat app availability as non-guaranteed.

The prominent crow-flight mileage is a geographic comparison from Jerisich Dock, not a route distance. Road, marine, time, and fare figures here are planning ranges, not live quotes. The named dock panel uses verified landing information where available; otherwise it explicitly tells you to confirm before relying on it.

What you actually do

  • Island institution in a restored hardware building, serving chowder, crab cakes, burgers, fish and cocktails.
  • Address: 17601 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon, WA 98070
  • Good orders: Dungeness crab cakes, chowder, fish and chips, martinis

Review synthesis

OpenTable 4.4/5 from 309 ratings; strong ambience, chowder and crab dishes, with recurring criticism of value and service consistency when busy.

4.4 / 5 · 309 reviews in the captured aggregate

Useful cautions and little wins

  • Excellent rain option.

Stay in this mood

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Worth leaving the waterfront for if food quality matters more than nightlife proximity.

Fox IslandZog's

The most entertaining Fox Island meal and a memorable ride destination.

Proctor / Sixth AvenueFondi Pizzeria Proctor

An easy, broadly appealing lunch or dinner beside the farmers market, wine rooms and Blue Mouse.