A “sold” sign hangs outside the property that formerly housed Walmart in early December after it was announced it has been purchased by U-Haul. Company officials recently shared plans to unveil a temporary showroom at its new location by the end of January. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

A “sold” sign hangs outside the property that formerly housed Walmart in early December after it was announced it has been purchased by U-Haul. Company officials recently shared plans to unveil a temporary showroom at its new location by the end of January. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Moving fast: U-Haul plans to open doors at the end of the month for temporary showroom

The company is looking to hire around 15 people, according to U-Haul Company of Alaska president.

It’s been less than a month since the former Walmart building on Glacier Highway was purchased by Amerco Real Estate Co., a subsidiary of U-Haul, and the company shared its plans to unveil a temporary showroom at its new location by the end of January.

Ray Rushing, U-Haul Company of Alaska president, said through a company media contact that the company is currently in the process of cleaning up the building, and once complete, renovations will begin to repurpose the location. If all goes to plan, he said residents can expect its doors to open for a temporary showroom by the end of this month. He did not specify what would be included at the showroom.

“It takes a special type of business to fill such a large space,” he said. “U-Haul is perfect for this property because we can fully utilize the space, and we’ll do it without the environmental impact of a new build.”

The 122,278 square foot building and 10-acre property on Glacier Highway remained vacant for more than five years before the purchase in early December. The building was originally constructed in 1993 and served as a Kmart, however, it closed down after a decade at the location before being purchased by Walmart, which also closed down after a decade in 2016.

According to the city assessor’s office, the total property value —including the building — is just under $11.2 million, however, Rushing said U-Haul will not be disclosing the actual purchase price of the property. In October, voters narrowly OK’d repealing a municipal ordinance that would have required disclosure of the property’s sales price.

Rushing said once the facility is at full operations, the company is looking to hire locally and hire around 15 people. He said some of the open positions will include general managers, customer service representatives and facility maintenance technicians, along with construction positions during the renovation process.

Some of the services that Rushing said will be offered at the property will include customer access to truck and trailer sharing, boxes and moving supplies, portable storage containers, towing equipment, professional hitch installation, hitch accessories, bike racks and propane among other commodities.

“This new U-Haul facility will enable us to serve a growing Juneau community. We are providing a one-stop shop for the moving and storage needs of our neighbors. This community can have peace of mind knowing that a recognized industry leader is here to stay,” he said.

• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651)-528-1807. Follow her on Twitter at @clariselarson.

More in News

Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File
The Aurora Borealis glows over the Mendenhall Glacier in 2014.
Aurora Forecast

Forecasts from the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute for the week of March. 19

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Tuesday, March 21, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

This September 2015, photo provided by NOAA Fisheries shows an aerial view of adult female Southern Resident killer whale (J16) swimming with her calf (J50). New research suggests that inbreeding may be a key reason that the Pacific Northwest’s endangered population of killer whales has failed to recover despite decades of conservation efforts. The so-called “southern resident” population of orcas stands at 73 whales. That’s just two more than in 1971, after scores of the whales were captured for display in marine theme parks around the world. (NOAA Fisheries / Vancouver Aquarium)
The big problem for endangered orcas? Inbreeding

Southern resident killer whales haven’t regularly interbred with other populations in 30 generations.

Juneau Brass Quintet co-founding member Bill Paulick along with Stephen Young performs “Shepherd’s Hey” to a packed house at the Alaska State Museum on Saturday as part of the quintet’s season-ending performance. Friends of the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum sponsored the event with proceeds going to the musicians and FoSLAM. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Top brass turns out for event at State Museum

Free performance puts a capt on a busy season.

Alaska’s state legislators are slated to get the equivalent of 6,720 additional $5 bills in their salary next year via a $33,600 raise to a total of $84,000 due to a veto Monday by Gov. Mike Dunleavy of bill rejecting raises for legislative and executive branch employees. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
Veto negates rejection of pay hikes for governor, legislators

Dunleavy clears way for 67% hike in legislative pay, 20% in his to take effect in coming months

On Thursday, the Alaska State Board of Education approved a resolution that supports barring transgender female students from participating in girls’ sports. (Getty Images illustration via Alaska Beacon)
State school board supports barring transgender female students from participating in girls’ sports

On Thursday, the Alaska State Board of Education approved a resolution that… Continue reading

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire 
State Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, asks Randy Bates, director of the Division of Water for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, about state water quality regulations some fish hatcheries are calling harmful during a Senate Finance Committee meeting Friday. The meeting was to review the DEC’s proposal to take over responsibility for many federal Clean Water Act permits, claiming it will be more responsible and efficient for development projects. Some of the senators questioned both the cost of the state taking over a process currently funded by the federal government, as well as the state’s ability to properly due to the job within the guidelines for such a takeover.
Wading into rule change proposals affecting clean water

National PFAS limits, state takeover of wetlands permits raise doubts about who should take charge

Guy Archibald collects clam shell specimens on Admiralty Island. Archibald was the lead author of a recently released study that linked a dramatic increase of lead levels in Hawk Inlet’s marine ecosystem and land surrounding it on Admiralty Island to tailings released from the nearby Hecla Greens Creek Mine. (Courtesy Photo / John Neary)
New study links mine to elevated lead levels in Hawk Inlet

Hecla Greens Creek Mine official ardently refutes the report’s findings.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Saturday, March 18, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read