This is a developing story.
Breeze In’s three convenience stores and catering operation have been purchased by the owner of Juneau’s two IGA supermarkets, and at least one change is immediately being made as the Breeze In locations in Douglas and Lemon Creek will close earlier beginning Friday.
However, a liquor store next to Foodland — Kenny’s Liquor Market — remains open after its owner said in August his lease wasn’t being renewed by the company that owns IGA and the space needed to be vacated by Sept. 30. It now appears the store will remain open at least through the end of the year.
A sign posted at the Mendenhall Valley Breeze In store on Monday states that while the grocery portion of that location will remain open 24 hours a day — and the liquor section hours unchanged — the Lemon Creek and Douglas locations will close at 10 p.m. daily as of Nov. 1. The Douglas store is currently open until midnight daily; the Lemon Creek store is open until 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and midnight Friday and Saturday.
The Myers Group LLC, based in Washington state, has formed a new subsidiary company, Juneau Fresh Foods, that includes the three Breeze In locations as well as the address where Dehart’s Auke Bay Store is located. The Myers Group already owns Dehart’s, as well as the Foodland and Super Bear IGA supermarkets.
A business license for Juneau Fresh Foods was issued Aug. 22 by the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. The company with a listed headquarters in Clinton, Washington, also has a certificate of formation effective as of July 26.
Officials with The Myers Group and Breeze In Corp. declined to comment, or did not respond to phone and email inquiries from the Empire as Tuesday morning.
Rick Wilson, general manager for Alaska operations for The Myers Group, said in an Aug. 15 interview discussions about the sale were still ongoing and that no official agreement has been reached. He said his company “wouldn’t go in and make any major changes” to the Breeze In’s current operations.
The Breeze In, in addition to its three retail stores, operates a full-scale catering operation and from-scratch bakery at its Lemon Creek location.
The Myers Group — which owns IGA supermarkets and other businesses in Washington, Oregon and Alaska — purchased Foodland in 2012, Super Bear in 2015 and DeHart’s Auke Bay Store after it was put up for sale in 2018.
The future status of Kenny’s Liquor Market, which opened in 1995, is unknown. Brandon Thibodeau, director of operations for Thibodeau’s Market Inc., which operates the store and others in Juneau, said Tuesday it appears the store will still close, but he doesn’t know when.
“We’re open through the holidays,” he said. “We’re assuming that’s through the end of the year. However, The Myers Group hasn’t been specific. However, when we do have a specific date we will let the public know, because we’re hoping to run some deals.”
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
