Alaska Commercial Company (AC) announced today that the company has signed an agreement with the Metlakatla Indian Tribe and the Leask Family to acquire Leask Market and Leask Mini-Mart in Metlakatla, AK. As the stores change management, their names will also change to AC Metlakatla and AC Mini Mart.
“We are proud of AC’s legacy serving Alaska since 1867, and we look forward to serving the Metlakatla community,” said AC’s President Kyle Hill “With the acquisition of these two stores, AC now operates 35 stores in rural Alaskan communities,” said Hill.
“Over the coming year, AC will invest more than $2.5 million to renovate both stores in Metlakatla,” added Hill.
Both stores will close on Sunday and Monday, July 17 and 18, for inventory and the installation of AC computer and point of sale equipment, and they will reopen on Tuesday morning, July 19.
AC plans to remerchandise both stores during the week of August 22, giving customers a larger selection of products including groceries, general merchandise, hardware, motorized vehicles such as ATVs, and bulk sized products. Customers will be able to pay with SNAP beginning on July 19 and we hope to be able to accept WIC in early August.
AC Metlakatla store hours will be 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and AC Mini Mart’s store hours will be 7:30 AM to 8:00 PM. Both stores will be open seven days per week.
“We are also excited to announce that AC Metlakatla will be managed by Robbe Gilmour and AC Mini Mart will be managed by Robin Gilmour,” said AC Vice President Walter Pickett. “Robbe and Robin most recently managed AC’s store in Cordova, AK for six years where they did an outstanding job,” Pickett added. The Gilmours have relocated to Metlakatla and look forward to serving the needs of the community.
“The employees currently working at both stores have been hired by AC continuing their employment,” said Pickett. AC is one of Alaska’s oldest companies and largest employers. More than 800 employees work in the company’s 34 stores throughout Alaska, in its corporate offices, and in warehouses in Anchorage and Tacoma, WA.
