The western Alaska hub community of Unalakleet already had two stores. Well, sorta.
Alaska Commercial Company operates a large, supermarket style store on the south end of town. The Unalakleet Native Corporation, meanwhile, sold groceries and beverages crammed into what locals call the “Garage”. But the Garage, run by resident Bradley Ransom, is really meant to sell light switches and screwdrivers, not onions and energy drinks.
So the corporation decided to build a new store. In honor of the old one, residents recently voted to call it “Ransom’s Grocery Store.”
From an office in the new store, Agnes Katongan pointed to a shelf packed with multi-packs of beverages.
“You see the shelving?” she asked. “There was only three shelving over there, and they weren't that high, yeah, so we had to limit the stuff over there.”
Pieces of the store were barged up and assembled in 2023, but sat vacant for over a year. Tired of waiting, the corporation’s general manager hired Katongan to be the store’s new manager and made it her mission to finally get the store opened.
Katongan and a handful of employees spent a weekend in early-December moving items over from the Garage and stocking the new store. A grand opening was held just weeks later with Alaska Air miles, TVs, and heating oil serving as door prizes.
Like AC’s just a two-minute walk down the road, the new store has everything from ground coffee to fresh fruit and frozen meat. But Katongan said there’s one major thing that sets it apart.
“Because this is owned by the Native Corporation and run by the Native Corporation,” Katongan explained.
Katongan said pride in the new store goes far beyond it being owned and operated locally.
“I tell my workers, we work for the community," Katongan said. "People come here and buy food. We need to keep it clean and stocked.”
Katongan said she hoped to open a deli at the new retail space soon, so locals have another option for meals on the go.
