News

Traffic passes by Fred Meyer in Juneau in November 2019. The store’s parent company, Kroger Co., is planning to merge with Albertsons Companies Inc., the parent company of Safeway. The companies announced Friday 14 of 35 Carrs Safeway stores in Alaska will be sold as part of the merger, but it is not known if Juneau’s Safeway is among them. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

14 of 35 Carrs Safeway stores in Alaska to be sold as part of proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger

Companies do not state if Juneau Safeway store will be among those sold.

 

A $10 million project to improve drainage and resurface parking lots at Juneau International Airport is slated for completion Nov. 1. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

Juneau airport project three-quarters of the way through

The primary goal of $10 million effort is to address longstanding drainage issues.

 

Steve Sanders and Estrella Acosta examine their catch aboard the Marilyn at the Auke Nu Cove station as Alysha Reeves, the events dock chair, awaits. Acosta, 11, turned in 11 scholarship fish and entered a 10.1-pound salmon on Friday evening, the first day of the 77th Annual Golden North Salmon Derby. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

Salmon Derby feels the weather, but keeps on fishing

77th annual charitable competition nets more fish than last year

 

Neil Doogan, owner of J&J Deli and Asian Mart, calls out an order while his wife Alma makes a sandwich for a customer Saturday. The deli that opened in 1979 closed on Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

J&J Deli and Asian Mart closes its doors after more than four decades

The business was greeted with a final flood of customers during the Monday lunch hour.

Neil Doogan, owner of J&J Deli and Asian Mart, calls out an order while his wife Alma makes a sandwich for a customer Saturday. The deli that opened in 1979 closed on Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Alaskan Brewing Company’s Chillin’ Cold IPA recently won a Gold Crushie award for Best Can Design at this year’s 2023 Craft Beer Marketing Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. (Courtesy Photo / Alaskan Brewing Co.)

Alaskan Brewing Co. takes gold at 2023 Craft Beer Marketing Awards

Juneau-based brewery wins “Crushie” for best can design.

Alaskan Brewing Company’s Chillin’ Cold IPA recently won a Gold Crushie award for Best Can Design at this year’s 2023 Craft Beer Marketing Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. (Courtesy Photo / Alaskan Brewing Co.)
Owners Patsy Anderson-Dunn and Kim Anderson in front of Mendenhall Mall today. (Courtesy Photo / Patsy Anderson-Dunn)

Skateland to Glam: A history of the Mendenhall Mall

If you think the Mendenhall Mall is dead, you haven’t been there lately. Three years ago, Mendenhall Mall — the 200,000-square-foot shopping center in the… Continue reading

Owners Patsy Anderson-Dunn and Kim Anderson in front of Mendenhall Mall today. (Courtesy Photo / Patsy Anderson-Dunn)
Captain Joe Emerson catches a salmon aboard his boat the TommyL II using a line-caught method, also known as trolling for his co-owned Southeast business Shoreline Wild Salmon. Shoreline was recently recognized by Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab as one of the best seafood delivery services currently in business. (Courtesy Photo / Joe Emerson)

Southeast salmon business hooks national attention

Shoreline Wild Salmon delivery service feted by Good Housekeeping.

Captain Joe Emerson catches a salmon aboard his boat the TommyL II using a line-caught method, also known as trolling for his co-owned Southeast business Shoreline Wild Salmon. Shoreline was recently recognized by Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab as one of the best seafood delivery services currently in business. (Courtesy Photo / Joe Emerson)
Nevin Overmiller, 78, walks a KFC food delivery to a customer’s door while delivering for Uber Eats, Wednesday, Jan 5, 2021, in Palm Harbor, Fla. Attacks which occurred in Florida last month sent ripples of fear among some app-based drivers, who have long demanded better protection from companies whose safety policies they say are bettered geared toward customers than workers. (Douglas R. Clifford / Tampa Bay Times)

Attacks on delivery drivers add fears among gig workers

Recent attacks sent new ripples of fear among some app-based drivers.

Nevin Overmiller, 78, walks a KFC food delivery to a customer’s door while delivering for Uber Eats, Wednesday, Jan 5, 2021, in Palm Harbor, Fla. Attacks which occurred in Florida last month sent ripples of fear among some app-based drivers, who have long demanded better protection from companies whose safety policies they say are bettered geared toward customers than workers. (Douglas R. Clifford / Tampa Bay Times)
Marijuana plants are shown at a California Street Cannabis Company location in San Francisco on March 20, 2023. Along the West Coast, which has dominated U.S. marijuana production from long before legalization, producers are struggling with what many call the failed economics of legal pot...a challenge inherent in regulating a product that remains illegal under federal law. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Part party, part call to action: A look at pot holiday 4/20

Examining cannabis culture’s high holiday.

Marijuana plants are shown at a California Street Cannabis Company location in San Francisco on March 20, 2023. Along the West Coast, which has dominated U.S. marijuana production from long before legalization, producers are struggling with what many call the failed economics of legal pot...a challenge inherent in regulating a product that remains illegal under federal law. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Leeann Thomas, third-generation owner of the Triangle Club, stands before the business her grandfather started in 1947. The location has a long history of Juneau businesses. (Laurie Craig / For the Downtown Business Association)

Rooted in Community: The Triangle Club and 76 years of the Thomas family

Historical photos hang in the building that once housed the famous Winter and Pond photo studio.

Leeann Thomas, third-generation owner of the Triangle Club, stands before the business her grandfather started in 1947. The location has a long history of Juneau businesses. (Laurie Craig / For the Downtown Business Association)
Angie Flickinger harvests spruce tips in Wrangell. (Courtesy Photo / Asia Dore Photography)

Planet Alaska: Waterbody — Celebrating place

Wrangell is not a place you might imagine there’d be a skin care company…

Angie Flickinger harvests spruce tips in Wrangell. (Courtesy Photo / Asia Dore Photography)
During winter 2022-23, contractors replace the awning structure on the 1904-1913 Valentine Building. The historic building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Its location at the corner of Front and Seward streets is also within Juneau’s Downtown Historic District. (Laurie Craig / For the DBA)

Rooted in Community: The historic Valentine Building and the Findley Family

Many shops have occupied the Seward Street storefronts while Juneau Drug anchors the corner space.

During winter 2022-23, contractors replace the awning structure on the 1904-1913 Valentine Building. The historic building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Its location at the corner of Front and Seward streets is also within Juneau’s Downtown Historic District. (Laurie Craig / For the DBA)
Kristi Elliott, owner of Juneau International Airport’s gift shop Hummingbird Hollow Gifts, stands with Debra Holman to review inventory. If the airport moves forward with proposed plans to reconfigure the allocated space for the gift shop, Elliott said it could dramatically limit the current wide selection of inventory Hummingbird Hollow Gifts offers, which then cuts down their overall revenue. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Change is in the wings for the airport gift shop

Hummingbird Hollow Gifts’ contract expires in September, request for proposals is open.

Kristi Elliott, owner of Juneau International Airport’s gift shop Hummingbird Hollow Gifts, stands with Debra Holman to review inventory. If the airport moves forward with proposed plans to reconfigure the allocated space for the gift shop, Elliott said it could dramatically limit the current wide selection of inventory Hummingbird Hollow Gifts offers, which then cuts down their overall revenue. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Cars fill the parking lot outside of Driftwood Lodge in downtown Juneau Monday morning. The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska recently announced it’s purchase of the site.

Tlingit and Haida purchases downtown Driftwood Lodge

The building is located near Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall and Foodland IGA.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Cars fill the parking lot outside of Driftwood Lodge in downtown Juneau Monday morning. The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska recently announced it’s purchase of the site.
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Matt Cook, new Dealer Principal of Juneau Auto Mall, formerly Mendenhall Auto Center, poses for a photo on Wednesday. Cook took over ownership officially on Wednesday, March 1.

Ownership transition drives change at dealership

Juneau Auto Mall, formerly known as Mendenhall Auto Center, officially opened its doors on March 1.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Matt Cook, new Dealer Principal of Juneau Auto Mall, formerly Mendenhall Auto Center, poses for a photo on Wednesday. Cook took over ownership officially on Wednesday, March 1.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Dale Hudson holds his phone showing a photo of him and his late wife, Suzanne, dressed up as Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Dale is in the process of liquidating his wife’s store, Nana’s Attic, after her recent death in late February.

Unique downtown Juneau antique store to close following owner’s death

Family expressed gratitude for community support of Nana’s Attic

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Dale Hudson holds his phone showing a photo of him and his late wife, Suzanne, dressed up as Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Dale is in the process of liquidating his wife’s store, Nana’s Attic, after her recent death in late February.
Hailey Stockton helps her dog Marlie pose for a photo behind the kissing booth at McGivney’s Downtown as part of Pawlentine’s Day on Saturday, hosted by Juneau’s Downtown Business Association. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Downtown Juneau goes to the dogs

Local businesses celebrate Pawlentine’s Day with event.

Hailey Stockton helps her dog Marlie pose for a photo behind the kissing booth at McGivney’s Downtown as part of Pawlentine’s Day on Saturday, hosted by Juneau’s Downtown Business Association. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Lanie Downs with Cruise Lines International Association Alaska addresses the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce along with other members of the community on cruise line projections and economic impact expected for 2023.

Cruise ships projected to be closer to capacity this season

Last year ships were about 74% full, industry official says 90% projected for 1st quarter 2023.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Lanie Downs with Cruise Lines International Association Alaska addresses the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce along with other members of the community on cruise line projections and economic impact expected for 2023.
Reed Stoops bikes stationary with other athletes during a High Cadence Triathlon Team workout at the Dimond Park Field House Thursday evening. Many athletes are still deciding what to do after it was announced in mid-December the Ironman Group announced its decision to cancel the Ironman Alaska races for 2023 and 2024.

Ironman Alaska aftermath: Looking back at the impact of the first and — for now — last Ironman race in Alaska

Economic ripple could be felt across the state.

Reed Stoops bikes stationary with other athletes during a High Cadence Triathlon Team workout at the Dimond Park Field House Thursday evening. Many athletes are still deciding what to do after it was announced in mid-December the Ironman Group announced its decision to cancel the Ironman Alaska races for 2023 and 2024.
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.

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)