Anchorage loses another downtown business

The Moose A’La Mode cafe on 4th and K Streets has closed, with the owners saying that downtown Anchorage’s “changing dynamics have created challenges that we can no longer navigate safely or effectively.”

The owners posted on Facebook that they bought the cafe just when the Covid pandemic lockdowns hit, and they somehow survived as a business through that two-year challenge. But downtown has deteriorated in the four years they have been owners of the cafe.

“After surviving the challenges of the pandemic and dedicating every ounce of our energy, time, and resources into rehabilitating a staple of Downtown, we have ultimately decided that it is time to close our doors,” they said on social media. “We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your unwavering support and loyalty throughout the years. Your presence, energy, and enthusiasm have been the heartbeat of our café, and we’ve cherished every meal shared, every coffee brewed, and every story exchanged within these walls. It has truly been an honor to be part of such a vibrant and welcoming community, serving local patrons and those who have traveled from around the world to experience a once beautiful and thriving Downtown Anchorage scene.”

The owners will still have their food truck, Tiki Pete’s Alaskan Grill, “and we’ll also be bringing our signature dishes at the concession stands at the various events occurring at the Sullivan Arena. We’re not going anywhere!”

Downtown is suffering from a cultural collapse. Earlier this year, longtime Ghost Tours of Anchorage owner Rick Goodfellow closed his business of touring visitors around the downtown area and teaching them history, along with some ghost stories. He said downtown conditions were not safe anymore.

Iconic downtown restaurant Marx Bros. also closed this year and Kaladi Brothers closed its downtown location in 2023. The downturn began before Covid closures, when Nordstrom closed its downtown store in 2019, after being poorly treated by the Mayor Ethan Berkowitz administration, which tried to manhandle the company over the lease of the property. Meanwhile, Berkowitz’s downtown czar Andrew Halcro said that building a basketball court on top of one of the parking garages was a sure bet to revitalizing the downtown. The basketball economy in downtown Anchorage has been a complete failure.

The Mayor Suzanne LaFrance effort has been focused on choking off vehicles by converting lanes to bicycle-only spaces, further making downtown unattractive to shoppers and diners.