The last cruise ship to visit the capital city pulls out of Juneau at 9 p.m. Thursday.
As stores in the tourist district pack up and shut down for the fall and winter season, the Juneau Economic Development Council wants to make sure downtown remains an inviting place to be.
If you walked by the clothing store Alpaca International on Admiral Way last winter, what you would have seen in the store windows was black curtains “and a sign that said, ‘Thank you, Juneau,’” says owner Zia Boccacio.
When the business reduces its hours this fall and eventually closes this winter, she says the main window display will remain looking “nice, bright and lively.”
“We’re going to leave, like, an alpaca image in the window surrounded with beautiful wraps and capes and we’re going to leave the lights on,” Boccaccio says.
Throughout the winter, Boccaccio says an employee will be in charge of checking on the window display every few weeks.
Her change of off-season plans is a result of a Juneau Economic Development Council initiative, Winter Windows. Executive Director Brian Holst says it’s an effort to address how Juneau’s downtown looks, “especially in the wintertime when many of our stores in the far end of town are closed.”
Roughly 40 retail stores that thrive during the summer tourist season shut down after the cruise ships leave at the end of September. Many of these businesses are located in Juneau’s Downtown Historic District and are required by city code to “provide window displays that offer year-round interest.”
“Some businesses just put up a piece of dark paper to cover their window,” Holst says.
This common practice does not meet the city’s standard.
Holst says it’s also just not attractive.
“What we want to see is a bright window, so there’s some light on the streets and people feel comfortable walking by, and a pleasantly decorated window,” Holst says.
Window suggestions include scenes of Juneau’s natural beauty or historic past. Holst says JEDC can connect seasonal businesses with local artists.
Winter Windows is part of JEDC’s downtown revitalization effort supported by the Alaska Committee, Downtown Business Association, Tourism Best Management Practices, Princess Cruises and the City and Borough of Juneau. Volunteers with these organizations went door to door and talked to business owners and managers about their window displays during the off-season. They did this once in July and then again earlier this week.
“It’s really to encourage them to do something positive for Juneau this winter,” Holst says.
Boccaccio says she’s on board with the idea and thinks it’s the least summer businesses can do.
“It’s a moral obligation as a business owner that we should cooperate and support this initiative,” Boccaccio says.
JEDC plans to visit areas of downtown this winter, take pictures and highlight the best winter windows.
Lisa Phu is a reporter at KTOO in Juneau.
