Two months after the Edgewater Bridge reopened, Everett residents are returning to their old haunts in Mukilteo's waterfront district.

However, three business owners say the 18-month closure cost them so much that recovery remains uncertain, and for some, the lost revenue is gone for good.

The bridge, which connects Mukilteo Boulevard directly to West Everett, reopened in late April 2026 after an 18-month full replacement project. During the closure, a five-minute drive from Everett became a 35-minute detour through Glenwood and the Boeing Freeway.

Many Everett regulars simply stopped coming.

Chris Shirley, owner of John's Grill, told the Mukilteo Beacon that business has climbed 10% to 15% since the bridge reopened.

"About three weeks after the bridge opened, our bar top was full of old regulars," Shirley said. "It was a wonderful evening."

But the gains haven't erased the damage. Shirley said John's Grill lost significant money keeping its doors open during the closure. The restaurant cut staff and ramped up marketing through community events, online ads, and radio spots. As of early July 2026, it has not begun rehiring.

Shirley warned that some Mukilteo businesses may not survive if recovery stays slow, saying he would not be surprised to see closures after the summer tourist season. He also blamed high gas prices and grocery costs for keeping some Everett customers away, even with the bridge open.

At Sound Pizza, owner Lance Mitchell said sales dropped about 40% during the shutdown. He's seeing more customers from the Everett side of the bridge but said it's too early to estimate the percentage increase. The shop cut staff during the closure and pivoted to catering, a strategy that has become permanent.

Mitchell said Sound Pizza hopes to be profitable within a year but acknowledged the lost revenue is gone for good.

Soundview Deli owner Lia Tetreault saw the steepest decline. Before the closure, her deli served 250 to 300 customers daily. During the shutdown, that number fell to as few as 40 to 60. As of early July 2026, she's serving about 100 customers per day — roughly one-third of pre-closure volume.

Community members organized fundraisers and food donations for the deli during the closure. Tetreault is planning a neighborhood celebration to bring together residents, businesses, and first responders, though no date has been set.

The City of Mukilteo acknowledged during the closure that the bridge shutdown was "hitting our Waterfront District businesses hard," urging residents to dine and shop local. All three owners confirmed that many of their regular customers live on the Everett side of the bridge.

Shirley's message to those Everett customers: come back. Without their business, he said, the waterfront could fade as a destination.