News

Alex Vrabec recently began as the new director of Juneau’s Downtown Business Association. (Courtesy photo / Alex Vrabec)

Downtown Business Association gets new director in time for busy season

She’s arrived just in time to help organize the newly resuscitated Gallery Walk.

 

Collen Goodrich, owner of Annie Kaill's, holds up a print from the artist John Fehringer, on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. Goodrich said she's not having any sales for Black Friday, a major shopping day, but she's taking advantage of shoppers being out. Some had sales, others didn't, but businesses in downtown Juneau were open and ready for customers. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Back in Business

Back in Black Friday.

 

Luke Metcalfe sets up his record shop at Juneau Public Market on Friday, Nov. 26. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Thanksgiving weekend tradition returns

Public Market is open at Centennial Hall

 

Sandra Mulkey and her son Caleb, 3, set up a Christmas tree at the Mendenhall Mall on Nov. 24. Mulkey is kicking off a toy drive for foster children. She said that she has not collected toys at the Mendenhall Mall for the last few years because of low traffic. However, she said the increased traffic at the now mostly-full mall prompted her to set up there. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Mall together now

Community focus revitalizes mall

Sandra Mulkey and her son Caleb, 3, set up a Christmas tree at the Mendenhall Mall on Nov. 24. Mulkey is kicking off a toy drive for foster children. She said that she has not collected toys at the Mendenhall Mall for the last few years because of low traffic. However, she said the increased traffic at the now mostly-full mall prompted her to set up there. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
FedEx trucks sit outside the Juneau Fed Ex office on Nov. 25. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Shopping online? CBJ taxes still apply

Remote sellers tax generated $2M last year

FedEx trucks sit outside the Juneau Fed Ex office on Nov. 25. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
A Carnival cruise ship arrives in Juneau early in the morning on Aug. 14. Local business owners say that the short and significantly scaled back 2021 cruise season was welcome after the cancelation of the 2020 season. However, they say it was not enough and they are struggling to survive. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Small businesses still struggling due to pandemic’s effect on travel

“We are in survival mode”

A Carnival cruise ship arrives in Juneau early in the morning on Aug. 14. Local business owners say that the short and significantly scaled back 2021 cruise season was welcome after the cancelation of the 2020 season. However, they say it was not enough and they are struggling to survive. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
The entrance to the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area in the Tongass National Forest was covered in snow on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, a day after federal authorities announced the next step in restoring the 2001 Roadless Rule on the forest. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Feds put freeze on Roadless Rule rollback

On the Roadless Rule again.

The entrance to the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area in the Tongass National Forest was covered in snow on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, a day after federal authorities announced the next step in restoring the 2001 Roadless Rule on the forest. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Anthony Mallott, president and CEO of Sealaska Corp. reflected on the 50th Anniversary of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act during the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce weekly lunch on Thursday.

Mallott looks back — and forward — 50 years after ANCSA

Native corporates are big business in Alaska

Anthony Mallott, president and CEO of Sealaska Corp. reflected on the 50th Anniversary of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act during the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce weekly lunch on Thursday.
The last cruise ship of the year, the Norwegian Encore, sails out of Juneau on Wednesday, Oct., 20, 2021, ending a cruise ship season that almost didn't happen. According to the Juneau's Docks and Harbor's department, the Encore brought more than 2,000 passengers Wednesday, far below an average year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Final cruise ship of 2021 leaves Juneau

A limited season winds down.

The last cruise ship of the year, the Norwegian Encore, sails out of Juneau on Wednesday, Oct., 20, 2021, ending a cruise ship season that almost didn't happen. According to the Juneau's Docks and Harbor's department, the Encore brought more than 2,000 passengers Wednesday, far below an average year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Workers make progress on the Sealaska Heritage Institute's Northwest Coast arts campus on Sept. 24. Supply chain issues and material shortages have been a factor for local construction projects this year. (Michael S. Lockett/Juneau Empire)

Shortages and shipping snarls complicate local projects

Substitutions and patience prevail

Workers make progress on the Sealaska Heritage Institute's Northwest Coast arts campus on Sept. 24. Supply chain issues and material shortages have been a factor for local construction projects this year. (Michael S. Lockett/Juneau Empire)
Industries related to cruise ships, like this one docked in downtown Juneau on July 26, 2021, were the most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic according to a report from the McKinley Research Group. Senior economist at McKinley Jim Calvin says he’s concerned about businesses ability to hire enough workers going forward. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Report: Labor challenges likely to impact pandemic recovery

Tourism troubles.

Industries related to cruise ships, like this one docked in downtown Juneau on July 26, 2021, were the most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic according to a report from the McKinley Research Group. Senior economist at McKinley Jim Calvin says he’s concerned about businesses ability to hire enough workers going forward. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Alaska Seaplanes is helping form a new airline, Aleutian Airways, which will serve the Anchorage- Unalaska route beginning soon. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-based airline expands to Southwest Alaska under new flag

The focus is initially going to be on a single service route.

Alaska Seaplanes is helping form a new airline, Aleutian Airways, which will serve the Anchorage- Unalaska route beginning soon. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau businesses now offer rewards through the Local Frequency application. The smartphone-based app aims to give locally-owned businesses loyalty, rebate, and promotion opportunities with a community-based twist. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

New app offers rewards for shopping local

The Local Frequency app is now available

Juneau businesses now offer rewards through the Local Frequency application. The smartphone-based app aims to give locally-owned businesses loyalty, rebate, and promotion opportunities with a community-based twist. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Meilani Schijvens, owner of Rain Coast Data, shared the 2021 Business Climate Survey results with members of the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Thursday. The data show that the pandemic-related tourism restrictions battered communities in Southeast Alaska. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Business climate survey shows pandemic’s outsize local impact

Southeast Alaska one of the country’s hardest-hit areas

Meilani Schijvens, owner of Rain Coast Data, shared the 2021 Business Climate Survey results with members of the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Thursday. The data show that the pandemic-related tourism restrictions battered communities in Southeast Alaska. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Alex Alf, cultivation manager at Stoned Salmon Farms, displays a marijuana variety called Blissful Wizzard, on April 16. He said this variety of marijuana was developed to relieve epilepsy symptoms. Alf said that cultivating marijuana in Alaska requires experimentation to fine-tune the final product. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Checking in on a budding local industry

Even in the face of pandemic, business stays high.

Alex Alf, cultivation manager at Stoned Salmon Farms, displays a marijuana variety called Blissful Wizzard, on April 16. He said this variety of marijuana was developed to relieve epilepsy symptoms. Alf said that cultivating marijuana in Alaska requires experimentation to fine-tune the final product. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
House lawmakers are hoping to see at least some cruise ship passengers like these seen in this Sept. 2017 file photo, and passed a resolution urging Congress and the president to take action on behalf of Alaska's tourist sector. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

House OKs resolution urging federal action to allow cruise ships to come to Alaska

Juneau’s lawmakers say tourism needed for Southeast.

House lawmakers are hoping to see at least some cruise ship passengers like these seen in this Sept. 2017 file photo, and passed a resolution urging Congress and the president to take action on behalf of Alaska's tourist sector. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau’s breweries, with a funds-matching donation from the Rasmuson Foundation, donated $36,000 to the Chilkat Valley Community Foundation to assist with relief from last year’s fatal landslides as part of the “Pour the Love” fundraiser on March 30, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Meghan Chambers)

Pilgrimage of pints raises thousands of dollars for Haines

The Pour the Love event was a big success

Juneau’s breweries, with a funds-matching donation from the Rasmuson Foundation, donated $36,000 to the Chilkat Valley Community Foundation to assist with relief from last year’s fatal landslides as part of the “Pour the Love” fundraiser on March 30, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Meghan Chambers)
This June 2016 photo shows then-Alaska Marijuana Control Board member Brandon Emmett at the board's meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. Regulators amid much fanfare in early 2020 approved the first cannabis lounges in Alaska. It was a milestone for the state's legal marijuana industry. Then the pandemic hit. An owner of one of the shops hopes to open later this year. An owner of the other said his shop opened briefly last fall before having to hit pause amid a surge in COVID-19 cases across the state. Emmett, a former member of the Marijuana Control Board who strongly advocated for rules to allow onsite use, said he thinks the number of cannabis lounges or cafes in the state will be limited "for at least a couple years." (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Pandemic puts pause on on-site use for some Alaska pot shops

By Becky Bohrer Associated Press Regulators amid much fanfare in early 2020 approved two cannabis lounges in Alaska, making it one of the few states… Continue reading

This June 2016 photo shows then-Alaska Marijuana Control Board member Brandon Emmett at the board's meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. Regulators amid much fanfare in early 2020 approved the first cannabis lounges in Alaska. It was a milestone for the state's legal marijuana industry. Then the pandemic hit. An owner of one of the shops hopes to open later this year. An owner of the other said his shop opened briefly last fall before having to hit pause amid a surge in COVID-19 cases across the state. Emmett, a former member of the Marijuana Control Board who strongly advocated for rules to allow onsite use, said he thinks the number of cannabis lounges or cafes in the state will be limited "for at least a couple years." (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire The Gold Town Theater’s new drive-in location at the downtown subport lot hosts a fully armed and operational screen for all-weather conditions.

New faces downtown: Drive-in theater settles into new home

The Gold Town Theater’s drive-in gets lively with its showings.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire The Gold Town Theater’s new drive-in location at the downtown subport lot hosts a fully armed and operational screen for all-weather conditions.
Juneau’s Salvation Army thrift store, shown here on Feb. 12, 2021, has been glanced but not stopped by the pandemic, a Salvation Army officer said. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Secondhand stores hang tough amid pandemic

Demand hasn’t yet outrun the charity of Juneau residents.

Juneau’s Salvation Army thrift store, shown here on Feb. 12, 2021, has been glanced but not stopped by the pandemic, a Salvation Army officer said. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)