AC Stuaqpak Opens in Utqiagvik, Expanding Local Grocery Choices
Alaska Commercial Company opened AC Stuaqpak in Utqiagvik the week before publication, moving into the community's largest retail space and drawing roughly a thousand people to its grand opening. The new 40,000 square foot store promises wider food selection, more local jobs, and potential new retail services that could reshape shopping and small business opportunities in the North Slope Borough.
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Alaska Commercial Company opened a new full service grocery store in Utqiagvik this week, taking over the community's largest retail footprint and signaling a fresh phase for local food retail. AC Stuaqpak occupies about 40,000 square feet in a building owned by Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation, and the store welcomed roughly a thousand people at its grand opening, according to ACC president Kyle Hill. The name Stuaqpak means "big store" in Inupiaq.
The new outlet replaces previous operators who used the Stuaqpak name, and comes after UIC said earlier this year it would seek a grocer able to meet the community's needs following inventory problems under prior management. UIC president and chief executive officer Pearl Brower has said the larger retail footprint opens the door for adding financial services and small business storefronts inside the retail space, which could create new revenue streams and storefront opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
AC Stuaqpak expands local offerings beyond what many residents have had access to. The store carries a broader selection of fresh cut meat, produce, frozen food and general merchandise. It plans to roll out deli and hot foods including burgers and breakfast sandwiches shortly, with later upgrades to new floors, refrigeration and check stands planned. Store hours are Monday through Saturday 7:00 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
ACC already operates a smaller store near the Utqiagvik airport and intends to keep that location while monitoring customer shopping patterns to determine the smaller store's future. Across the two locations ACC expects to employ roughly 60 people, a significant local hiring impact given Utqiagvik's small population and the limited local labor market for retail positions.
For local residents the opening matters on several fronts. Expanded in town food variety can reduce trips for specialty items and provide faster access to perishable goods. The larger hours and planned prepared foods may also shift when and how households spend on groceries and takeout. From an economic perspective the store increases local wage income and could retain more consumer spending in town, rather than leaking to outside markets.
The building owner sees broader potential. Integrating financial services and small business kiosks into the retail footprint would align retail activity with community development goals, offering physical space for entrepreneurs and potentially increasing convenience banking options in a market where such services are limited.
As AC Stuaqpak begins regular operations, attention will turn to how shopping patterns evolve and whether the airport store remains viable. For now the opening marks a concrete step toward improving local retail capacity and economic activity in Utqiagvik, with employment, product availability and new business space the immediate metrics to watch.
