A baker from Eagle River whose cookie brand already made a national impact is taking off for an intercontinental audience, thanks to an airline partnership. Molly Bz Cookies reached an exclusive agreement to provide treats for Northern Pacific Airways, doing business as Ravn Alaska. Molly Bz is offering an exclusive special recipe, Cinnadoodle, plus seasonal varieties throughout the year. CEO Molly Blakeley has already positioned her wares in Target cafes, hotels, resorts, and boutique shops, and they’ve been stuffed in gift bags at the Oscars, Grammys, and International Emmys.
mollybz.com

Just as ghost writers author books on behalf of other people, Ghost Kitchen serves food from other Anchorage restaurants. Billed as “multiple restaurants in one location,” the new shop near Tudor and Lake Otis prepares meals for takeout or delivery, with menu items borrowed from other establishments, such as the Korean chain Top Bop or the new Eat’Alia in South Anchorage. Ghost Kitchen’s business model also includes brands that are dipping a toe in the market. K-Roll, Hangry Chicken, and Wazza (pizza waffles) were tested over the winter to see if they could support stand-alone restaurants.
akghostkitchen.com

The newest business to tag itself with an up-and-coming nickname for Alaska’s largest city held a grand opening in December. Rage City Vintage sells secondhand housewares and apparel, largely on consignment, from a shop near Spenard Road and 34th Avenue. Co-owners MacKenzie Tubbs and Emma Hill wanted to expand from selling at a market booth, and they pooled together with other artists and vintage curators to afford rent. The store also includes a gathering space for performances and presentations.
ragecityvintage.com

Arizona-based The Joint Corp., the nation’s largest provider of chiropractic care through The Joint Chiropractic network, opened its first Alaska location in Wasilla. Franchise owners are opening a second clinic in South Anchorage in early 2023, and a third location later in the year has yet to be named. Alaska extends The Joint’s footprint to forty states, with 800 locations.
thejoint.com/alaska

The typhoon that battered the Western Alaska coast in September hastened the opening of a Northrim Bank branch in Nome. The bank received special permission to open a temporary location on Front Street to meet the needs of the Nome community. A new, larger Financial Center will follow in 2023 on Fifth Avenue, giving Northrim eighteen branches statewide.
northrim.com

The former Sam’s Club warehouse store at Tikahtnu Commons in Anchorage’s Muldoon neighborhood is coming back to life thanks to a competitor. Costco is planning a $5.1 million renovation to convert the building into a Business Center, which caters to small businesses but is also open to all member customers. The Washington-based chain operates fifteen Business Centers nationwide. It would be the fifth Costco store in Alaska. Walmart closed all three of its Alaska Sam’s Club locations in 2018 as part of a nationwide downsizing.
costco.com

Fairbanks-area electricity customers could put money toward solar panels, even if their own homes or businesses aren’t suitable, thanks to Alaska’s first community solar project. Golden Valley Electric Association is applying for permits to allow members to invest in shares of a solar panel, like those at the utility’s 563-kW, 3-acre farm. Investors could take advantage of a renewable energy credit to lower their bills without the direct costs of installation or maintenance.
gvea.com

A subsidiary of ASRC Industrial, F.D. Thomas, is expanding with the acquisition of Redwood Painting Company of California. F.D. Thomas already has branches in California, Washington, and Maryland, in addition to its Oregon headquarters; joining forces with Redwood adds to the company’s expertise in specialty coatings.
fdthomas.com