Open & Shut: Anchorage gets a poke eatery, a bike shop, an expanded Fire Island bakery, a massage studio and a coffee shop

Yahoo

03-05-2025

May 3—Open & Shut is an ongoing series looking at the comings and goings of businesses in Southcentral Alaska. If you know of a business opening or closing in the area, send a note to reporter Alex DeMarban at [e-mail] with "Open & Shut" in the subject line.
SHUT
Silva Saddle Western Wear & Tack: This Western wear shop in Midtown Anchorage is hanging up its hat after more than 50 years in business.
Silva Saddle launched in 1973 as the Alaska oil boom began to draw Texans, Oklahomans and others who bought Western wear, said owner Don Causey.
Over the decades, the store made a name for itself, he said.
It was co-founded by Dea Silva, Causey's mom. She ran it for decades before passing away at age 96 nearly three years ago.
With her big personality, she made the store a landmark in the industry, he said.
Western wear suppliers from the Lower 48 referred to Dea as "a legend," he said.
Dozens of the biggest country music singers and writers dropped into the store on trips to Alaska. Their pictures and autographed tributes to the store line the walls.
A 1975 photo features the late Merle Haggard looking playfully at Causey's mom. Her son found the pictures only a few months ago.
"He's looking at her pretty frisky, and probably that's why she didn't show me those slides," he said. "I was really protective of her."
Causey worked at the store alongside his mom much of his life. At 66, it's time to retire, he said. He plans to live partly in Anchorage but spend winters in Egypt, at his house near the pyramids of Giza.
The opening of a Boot Barn in northeast Anchorage early this year contributed to the decision to close, he said. The national retailer was smart to open near Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, a source for many of his customers, he said.
"I'm not upset about it," he said. "It's just life."
Silva Saddle will close when the boots, cowboy hats, snap-button shirts, belt buckles, leather purses and cologne have been sold, he said.
It's 40% off everything, but he might soon sweeten the deal, he said. The store is located at 2808 E. Tudor Road, east of Lake Otis Parkway.
Taking down all the pictures of his mom and the musicians will be the hardest part of closing, he said.
"I just want to thank Anchorage and everyone that knew my mom and me," he said, tears welling in his eyes Thursday. "I'm happy with it. Fifty-two years was a good run."
"It's kind of heartbreaking," longtime customer Trent Mobraaten said of the store's closure.
He came with a friend to buy shirts in the liquidation sale.
"We just wanted to come and tell him goodbye and say thanks for all the years," Mobraaten said.
Carrs-Safeway at Gambell: Despite the efforts of Fairview residents to save it, the oldest Carrs grocery store is set to close May 10.
The store opened in the 1950s at 13th Avenue and Gambell Street. The store hired the first Black person to work in retail in Anchorage, Richard Watts Jr., following protests organized by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
A store representative said in April that it's sometimes necessary to close stores that are "perpetually unable to meet financial expectations."
OPEN
Sakana Poke & Soiree: Two longtime friends opened this poke bowl restaurant and cafe in Midtown Anchorage in March.
Jin Chen, originally from China, and Jia Sim, originally from Malaysia, said they modeled the restaurant after Japanese-style cafes.
"Japan has high standards with coffee and desserts, and we like the idea of grab-and-go in Japan," said Sim, who co-founded Kami Ramen in Spenard a couple of years ago.
Sakana, which means "fish" in Japanese, sells made-to-order poke bowls. It also sells several "signature bowls" like the Smokey Pokey, with smoked Alaska salmon, truffle soy, crispy onion, avocado and other ingredients.
Another option is the Aloha Ahi. It includes raw tuna, macaroni salad, sesame seed, seaweed and pickled slaw, with a mango-pineapple-jalapeno sauce.
There's a vegetarian poke, too. The Tundra Tofu comes with teriyaki tofu, edamame, crispy onion, corn, sesame ginger soy and other items.
Sakana uses fresh fruit and vegetables and only Alaska salmon, Sim said. All the sauces are made in house, along with most toppings, such as pickled jalapeno and pickled slaw.
Alongside pastries, several coffee drinks and beverages are available, including a mango-passionfruit matcha and a sesame seed latte.
The two-story restaurant includes dining and work areas, lounge seating and a kids play section. There's a projector screen and large TV for presentations upstairs, plus private rooms for business meetings, parties or tea time, Chen said.
Sakana is available for rent and catering outside business hours.
The two friends met years ago when they operated small Anchorage businesses near each other. Their friendship grew through monthly phone calls to assess the Anchorage economy and business opportunities, Chen said.
Sakana hosts local artists and nonprofits for pop-up events. "The restaurant is about supporting the community," Chen said.
Sakana is located in the Metro Mall next to Great Harvest Bread Co., at 570 E. Benson Blvd., No. 23. It's open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
Mad Moose Bikes: Will Ross started fixing bikes as a teenager, 20 years ago at the Anchorage REI store.
Once a professional off-road triathlete, Ross eventually took on management roles at bike shops in town.
He even helped design fat bikes at 9:ZERO:7, and led the design of the Lynx model.
His latest endeavor is Mad Moose Bikes in South Anchorage.
The shop is located at 8730 Lake Otis Parkway, No. 2, north of Abbott Road. Ross made sure to find a spot that's as close as possible to the Hillside mountain biking trails.
Mad Moose offers bike repair, plus bikes and gear for sale, he said. He'll soon sell riding apparel, too.
The brands includes Orbea bikes from Spain, Kona bikes from Washington state, Panorama Cycles and Prevelo Bikes that are made for kids.
Ross said his career as a bike mechanic temporarily halted a few years ago, after he developed plantar fasciitis in both feet. He could stand only a few minutes at a time.
He's recovered now, after rounds of surgery. Last year, friends began asking him to repair their bikes out of his house.
Mad Moose Bikes was born from there, initially as a mobile repair clinic out of a van.
The surge in Anchorage cycling, fueled by fat bikes and new mountain biking trails, helped buoy business, he said.
"I was immediately booked two weeks out," he said. "I had people dropping off bikes at my house. People saw my van and neighbors were knocking on my door."
"It was the busiest summer of my life," he said.
The storefront has been busy since it opened in April, with Ross doing most repairs himself, he said.
That's a good thing.
Ross and his wife, Andrea Kettler, are expecting their first baby in June.
Mad Moose is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., except for Wednesday when it's closed.
It's also open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and closed on Sunday.
Refuge Coffee Collaboration: This cafe opened last month in Spenard to support survivors of sex trafficking.
"Coffee with Purpose" is the slogan.
Refuge Coffee Collaboration supports anti-trafficking organizations, such as Priceless Alaska.
Priceless has helped more than 300 survivors of human trafficking since its founding in 2012, said Allison Mogensen, Priceless' executive director and the co-manager of the cafe.
"The heart of the coffee shop is creating space for the community to learn more about trafficking in our state," Mogensen said.
Adam Legg helped create the shop in part by raising funds to open it. He also co-manages it.
Refuge Coffee provides jobs for survivors, Mogensen said.
"We don't put them on the bar, but they help pick out items for merchandise and help with food preparation," she said. "It's back-of-house work for their safety and our safety."
At the full coffee bar, the beans are roasted on-site by Uncle Leroy's Coffee. The shop also sells teas and other beverages, plus pastries, scones and cookies.
Mocktail hour starts in the afternoon. A play area keeps kids busy. A large stage supports live music and other events.
On one wall, Alaska survivors of sex trafficking appear in black-and-white portraits decorated with gold-leaf accents. Placards tell their stories.
A boutique corner sells jewelry, coffee beans and other items. Many of the products are Alaska-made. Money from those sales also supports survivors, with a pompom from each sale placed in a small "hope jar."
"Each pompom represents a survivor that that purchase is impacting," Mogensen said.
Refuge Coffee is located at 3309 Spenard Road, next to Pho Lena.
It's open Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The cafe will add Mondays starting May 12, and move opening hours to 8 a.m.
Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop: This bakery has upgraded and expanded the little shop it once operated in Airport Heights.
The bake shop now comes with a neighborhood market, an espresso bar and more options for outdoor seating. It also sells the breads, pastries, sandwiches and soups that are available at the downtown spot.
One goal of the overhaul was creating a community gathering spot that draws cyclists and pedestrians, as well as motorists, said Rachel Pennington, the bake shop owner along with her parents Janis Fleischman and Jerry Lewanski.
Pennington said she also wanted a place where locals could stop in for milk, eggs, Alaska-grown produce and other items. The Little Sister Espresso & Market, alongside the bakery, meets that goal.
"We love this neighborhood," Pennington said. "We're really trying to listen to people. Like, 'Do you want avocados and apples? Do you want carrots and onions? How can we save you a trip to Costco?' "
Neighborhood residents have asked for a market and espresso bar since Fire Island opened the location in 2015, she said.
Behind the shop, there's an outdoor fireplace and picnic tables, atop cobblestone landscaping.
"And we're going to renovate the front yard into green space and beautiful meeting and eating space, with more bike storage, bike racks, and then a dog hitching post with water," Pennington said. "We'll make it just super family-friendly."
The bakery and market is located at 2530 E. 16th Ave., east of Lake Otis Parkway.
It's currently open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, but will operate daily.
Abby's Massage Studio: Abby Kuster recently opened this new massage studio in South Anchorage.
Abby's Massage Studio provides relaxation massages, deep tissue and cupping.
Kuster offers 60-90 minute massages that can be tailored to clients' needs, she said.
"Whether they're seeking relief, recovery or just relaxation," she said.
Trained at the Orlando School of Therapeutic Massage and Yoga in Florida, Kuster said she's worked several years as a massage therapist for chiropractic offices in Fairbanks and Anchorage.
Business has been good, she said.
The massage studio is east of Costco, off 87th Avenue and King Street, at 331 E. 87th Ave., Suite 100A.
Abby's takes appointments five days a week. It's closed on Mondays and Wednesdays.