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Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire Sacred Ground baristas Raven Salduvar and Mackenzie Gray serve coffee in their new location, Aan Hít, on Sunday, June 22, 2025.

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‘Healthy tribes make healthy communities’

Richard Peterson speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce about building opportunities for Juneau

Juneau ranked eighth out of 12 communities in an annual study asking business leaders how they feel about the business climate in Southeast Alaska. (City and Borough of Juneau)

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Uncertainty dragging down mood of Southeast business leaders in annual survey

Tariffs, layoffs, other Trump policies result in “second-lowest levels of positivity” since 2010.

Joann, the arts and crafts chain, announced it will close its Juneau location. An employee is seen working at the store on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

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Juneau’s Joann craft store is one of 500 closing across the US

Company filing for bankruptcy; property manager at mall said it’s unknown when local store will close.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, addresses the Southeast Conference’s Mid-Season Summit at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Rough seas in Southeast during Trump’s early days, but smoother waters ahead, Murkowski tells regional leaders

“Right now people are vomiting on either of the sides of the boat…(but) we’re going to get through…

The Safeway supermarket in Juneau, seen here Oct. 4, 2023, was among those in Alaska set to be sold if its parent company, Albertsons Companies Inc., merged with Kroger Co., the parent company of Fred Meyer. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

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Albertsons backs out of merger deal and sues Kroger after court rulings

Decision comes after federal judge blocks $25B deal between parent companies of Safeway, Fred Meyer.

The Breeze In at Lemon Creek, seen Thursday, is one of three stores that may be sold to the company that owns the Foodland and Super Bear supermarkets. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Owner of Foodland, Super Bear in discussions to buy the Breeze In stores

Company is also ending lease of Kenny’s Liquor Market, adjacent to Foodland since 1995.

The Safeway supermarket in Juneau, seen here Oct. 4, 2023, is among those in Alaska that might be sold if its parent company, Albertsons Companies Inc., merges with Kroger Co., the parent company of Fred Meyer. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Juneau’s Safeway among 579 stores to be sold off if Kroger-Albertsons merger is approved

Kroger statement declares “no frontline workers will lose their jobs and no stores will close.”

Meilani Schijvens (center), owner of Rain Coast Data, talks with attendees at a Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday before presenting results from an annual economic survey by her company. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Survey: Optimism of Southeast Alaska businesses down this year, but still second-highest since 2010

Tourism leaders most optimistic in Juneau, seafood industry most pessimistic, annual report states.

The Tlingit Culture, Language and Literacy Dance Group performs for attendees at Goldbelt Inc.’s 50th-anniversary celebration on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Goldbelt celebrates 50th anniversary with tributes, prayer, dancing and hopes for future

Leaders of local Alaska Native Regional Corporation looking ahead generations rather than years.

Doug Chilton works on a canoe journey carving at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé in February of 2016. (Courtesy of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska)

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Longtime Tlingit artist and activist Doug Chilton closing his shop Dec. 24, heading south

Juneau-born resident plans to return for One People Canoe Society trips he founded, other events.

Meta Mesdag, owner of Salty Lady Seafood Co., works alongside sons Emmett, 16, and Kai, 13. A harmful algae bloom shut down the farm for half of the 20-week season, which means working into the winter. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

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Pushing to expand mariculture in Alaska (Part 1): A day in the life of a Juneau oyster farming family

Salty Lady Seafood is working through the winter this year

Lyle’s & Jensen’s Home Furnishings on Jordan Avenue, a family business in that location for about 27 years, has sold the building, but will continue to operate in the location until the end of December. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

News

Furniture store closing after a long run, but may be back

Alaska Industrial Hardware purchased the building, according to assessors office.

Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire The theme for this year’s annual Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce event was “Under the Sea: A Celebration of Ocean Industries.” The event was held at Centennial Hall, which was festooned with items linked to the sea such as giant jellyfish decorations.

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Chamber adds new award to its biggest night

Gala celebration honored trash collector, plus construction firm key to saving homes during flood.

The Safeway supermarket in Juneau, seen here Wednesday, is among those in Alaska that might be sold if its parent company, Albertsons Companies Inc., merges with Kroger Co., the parent company of Fred Meyer. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

24 of 60 Alaska state lawmakers sign letter opposing merger of Safeway, Fred Meyer parent companies

All three of Juneau’s Democratic legislators among those opposing merger.

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)

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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)

News

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)

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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)

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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.

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.)

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

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

Owners Patsy Anderson-Dunn and Kim Anderson in front of Mendenhall Mall today. (Courtesy Photo / Patsy Anderson-Dunn)

News

Skateland to Glam: A history of the Mendenhall Mall

If you think the Mendenhall Mall is dead, you haven’t been there lately.