Closing for the winter

For the first time since 2008, the Skagway Brewing Company will not be open in the winter. Our last night open in 2022 will be October 29. This was a very difficult decision, as we thoroughly enjoy providing a place for friends, family and visitors to gather during those long months. We love cooking and serving you great food and drink. Unfortunately, many factors came together at once that will not allow us to do so for 2022-2023. Our operation requires a great deal of skilled labor, and though some of our faithful staff will be in town, it doesn’t appear that there will be enough in town this winter. We also need some time to make several transitions that will be good for our business and for the community moving forward. And lastly, we cannot afford to stay open. The last couple of years have been rough all around, but particularly on the financial front. This summer has been lackluster and not good enough for us to endure the financial loss that we typically take on in order to keep the doors open in the winter. We do expect things to get back on track next year and anticipate being back open in the winter of 2023-2024.  

Please keep in mind that at the end of each season, as many people take a big exhale and go on those hikes that they didn’t have time for all summer, most restaurants that stay open year-round, spend the first two months scrambling to find new and often temporary staff, and get them trained in. It is a stressful task that comes right after an exhausting summer, so please support those restaurants and retail stores that are staying open this winter.  

Sincerely,

Mike Healy, GM

Skagway Brewing Company

 

Keep the Historic District Commission

I am submitting this correspondence in regards to the proposed disestablishment of the Historic District Commission (HDC) that was discussed at the HDC meeting on June 27. I disagree with this proposal. Skagway prides and sells itself on the preservation and identification with the Klondike Gold Rush, a unique aspect to Skagway. Because of this, the municipal code has strict rules on development and display within the historic district of Skagway. I believe disestablishing this HDC will hinder Skagway’s commitment to this image and it’s longevity.

First, planning and zoning is one of the busiest committees for the assembly. Combining the duties of HDC adds additional duties that are better suited for a targeted overseeing committee.

Second, we pride ourselves and market ourselves for the genuine Klondike experience visitors feel when they come to Skagway. We should have a designated commitment to that appearance that has time and knowledge to best address it and its needs.

Finally, and more importantly, unlike Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka, three of Skagway’s biggest competing ports, Skagway is not a certified local government.

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/clg/index.htm

Again, as a community that prides itself on our history as well as being a community in which the Park Service exists within the townsite, we should be becoming part of programs like this, so that private business owners and citizens can utilize special funds to restore and maintain historic buildings in order to better preserve and share our history. To participate in this program, you have to have a formed committee very similar to that of the HDC. Instead of disestablishing it, we could utilize the HDC to receive this national recognition.

At a time when cruise lines have more options as far as which southeast ports they can visit, rather than disestablishing the commission, we should have a more active committee that is working to ensure and improve the experience of our primary industry.

Thank you for your consideration.

Kaitlyn Jared

Skagway Resident

Opposition to the Medallion program

Dear Assembly:

I would like to urge you to support Ordinance No. 22-05. If the ships are allowed to bring these “currency” programs to our port, it will be detrimental for the business community as well as the municipality. It is quite worrisome to me that they would embed sensors and use technology with “non-disclosed capabilities” in our port. I urge anyone who thinks this may be an acceptable program to dig deeper and fully research it. A large majority of the business community of Skagway has spoken against this program and any like it and I urge you to listen.

Carol Bourcy

Richter’s and Alaska Liquor Store

Dear Assembly:

I am deeply opposed to the Princess Medallion Program. It would do nothing but harm our local businesses and increase the stranglehold of the cruise lines on our town, not to mention the massive hit to the workers in Skagway as well. Please do not allow this to happen.

Alanna Bagdon

Head Madam, Red Onion Saloon

Dear Assembly:

I am absolutely against the Medallion Program or anything else of that nature being utilized in our municipality. This is a program that is damaging to our business community and also adds to the misperception that the ships own our local businesses. The shady nature of this program and its digital mining of information without disclosure or approval is absolutely unacceptable. I am in favor of Ordinance 22-05 as written. The ships have a history of lying to clientele about local businesses (both retail and tour operations) and have no oversight or repercussions for these lies or shady practices. Thank you for taking this stance.

Sherry Corrington