Thousands of Blockbuster video stores have shuttered around the country in recent years. A few locations remain in Alaska, but they’re fading quickly, too, making way for new ventures. The Kenai store has been closed for nearly two years, but the location will have a new tenant soon.
A new restaurant will join two other eateries in the building along the Kenai Spur highway that used to be home to Blockbuster video in Kenai. Todd Paxton and his wife Jane plan to open Alaska’s first Samurai Sam’s Teriyaki Grill next month.
“We’re just excited to bring a fresh, healthy alternative fast food to Kenai and we think it will be pretty well received," Todd Paxton said.
Samurai Sam’s is a franchise that operates mostly in the southwestern U.S.
“I think there’s about 20 (franchises) and most of those are located in the Phoenix metro area. Certainly the first ones here in the great state of Alaska to open one and we really think it’s going to be a hit.”
Rice and noodle bowls are the chain’s claims to fame, topped with a selection of meat, seafood and vegetables and mostly pricedbelow $10. Being so far away from the rest of the chain's restaurants presented some interesting challenges, Paxton says, both for them as new business owners and for the company, too.
“Largely, it’s a weather thing, because the elements that they were trying to promote are much more easily done where the weather is more temperate. So they have a lot of walk-up, store side and outdoor seating that unfortunately we can’t provide given the weather, but it’s been interesting kind of evaluating what they have and what they typically offer versus what we feel comfortable offering."
One of the things the Paxtons didn’t feel comfortable offering was the chain’s supply of salmon. They knew the frozen, farmed Atlantic version, whose preparation involved a microwave, wouldn’t fly here.
“That was one of the learning experiences for the franchise, when we informed them where we’re from and what we’re comfortable with providing, and that’s not it. So long story short, we’ve developed a relationship with a supplier here in Alaska and we plan on offering wild Alaskan salmon and we’re looking to promote that not only locally here in our store, but we’re also we’re hoping to offer that up nationally to the franchise, so we’re pretty excited about that.”
Paxton couldn’t offer a specific opening date, but says they’ll be ready sometime around the middle of next month.