FIFTH OPENING – The Sitka seine boats Hukilau and Rose Lee pump herring aboard this afternoon at the end of Deep Inlet during the fifth opening in the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. The opening was being held in two locations beginning at 11 a.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]
By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]
Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Gus Schumacher, the Anchorage Olympic cross-country skier, a [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
Alaska’s rural schools are on track to access faster interne [ ... ]
By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
In the language of the Gwich’in people of northeastern Alaska, [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 25
At 7:48 a.m. a calle [ ... ]
Vietnam-Era Vets
Invited to Lunch,
Commemoration
American Legion Post 13 will host a luncheon 1-3 p.m. [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The 2024 Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery got under [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly will start the annual process of determi [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Competing in the 3A state championship title basketball game Saturday, the M [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing through the afternoon Sunday, City League volleyball teams faced off [ ... ]
Daily Sitka Sentinel
Sitka Big Mac Shocker: McDonald’s to Go
A customer reacts this morning to a notice at the Halibut Point Road McDonald's that the franchise will be closing by the end of July. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
After more than 35 years as Sitka’s top spot for a fast food fix, McDonald’s on Wednesday announced that its Sitka restaurant will close this summer.
An announcement posted on the bulletin board at the Sitka McDonald’s this morning said the restaurant would “cease operations no later than 7/31/23.”
The announcement indicated the decision came from McDonald’s headquarters, and not from the current franchise holders, Mike White and Bill Laliberte.
“As a franchisee of McDonald’s we understand the business decision but find it hard to leave a community that we have been involved with for so long,” said the statement above White’s and Laliberte’s names.
In their announcement, the two thanked their Sitka employees.
“Those relationships will long be remembered, cherished and appreciated. You truly are the best,” they said.
“To our faithful customers ... We couldn’t have been in business without you. We will miss you and your beautiful community.”
Customers at the bustling waterfront restaurant this morning reacted to the news with disappointment.
Fran and Jim Hartman, both in their 70s, were at table overlooking the harbor and enjoying a Happy Meal (hers) and a quarter pounder with cheese (his).
“Big bummer, and very sad,” Fran said. “When we left Kodiak we talked about what city we wanted to go to. And one of the things on the list is they had to have a McDonald’s.”
They are oceangoing sailors and live aboard their boat in neighboring Thomsen Harbor. They’ve called Sitka home for the past 13 years, and said they eat more than once a week at McDonald’s.
They cited not just the food but the view as a selling point, a world-class view of Thomsen Harbor, the ocean, and Mt. Edgecumbe in the distance.
“The Kodiak McDonald’s has a view of the used tire shop,” Jim said.
Jim also mentioned the artwork on the walls of the Sitka McDonald’s featuring Alaska landscapes, images and wildlife.
“It’s really nice, somebody cared,” he said.
The couple even had a special celebration of Jim’s 70th birthday, and McDonald’s let them and their friends the Cropleys “make it fancy fancy,” with linen tablecloths and china.
Coming through the drive-thru, Morgan Bruno had picked up two cheeseburgers for herself and Happy Meal for her 4-year-old daughter before stopping to talk to a reporter.
She said she is too young to remember the opening of McDonald’s – at noon Aug. 19, 1986 – but did recall her father, contractor Marty Martin, doing work on the building. She remembers going to McDonald’s after sports, and other events.
“It was always consistent, it was always here, it was always available,” she said. “So easy, and the drive-thru is such a big thing, living in this rainy community.”
Bruno said she used to enjoy walking down from the high school during lunch. As she spoke, groups of high school boys were coming in the door to get McNuggets, fries and burgers.
Dean Orbison and his son Tyler were there for a McDonald’s lunch break, and at a nearby table two longtime friends were eating and talking things over.
Matthew Long, 15, said he heard about the closing from his music teacher, but was more philosophical than particularly disappointed by the news.
“Just put in a Chick-fil-A,” he said.
Commenting on the closure, Chamber of Commerce executive director Rachel Roy said she has noticed helped-wanted signs in recent years, and the restaurant shortening its hours, citing lack of staff.
She said she didn’t know why the restaurant is closing but it makes her think about the workforce challenges in Sitka.
“It does highlight and validate the Chamber’s work in addressing workforce challenges in the community,” she said. “From housing to training to childcare – we need to find solutions.”
The sign on the bulletin board, dated February 1, said: “McDonald’s has made the decision to cease operations in Sitka, no later than 7/31/23. As a franchisee of McDonald’s, we understand the business decision but find it hard to leave a community that we have been involved with for so long.
“To all our employees, past and present, thank you! Those relationships will long be remembered, cherished and appreciated. You truly are the best.
“To our faithful customers...we couldn’t have been in business without you. We will miss you and your beautiful community.
“Mike White
“Bill Lalberte”
Login Form
20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Matthew C. Hunter of Sitka recently returned from Cuba as part of a St. Olaf College International and Off-Campus Studies program. Hunter, a junior physics major at St. Olaf College, is the son of Robert and Kim Hunter of Sitka.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Eighth graders have returned from a visit to Juneau to see the Legislature. They had worked for it since Christmas vacation ... Clarice Johnson’s idea of a “White Elephant” sales was chosen as the best money-maker; Joe Roth won the political cartoon assignment; highest government test scorers were Ken Armstrong, Joanna Hearn, Linda Montgomery, Lisa Henry, Calvin Taylor and David Licari .....