At the same time a Main Street shop owner is packing up to move to Skagway, a Skagway shop is coming to Haines to fill the empty spot.
Joanie Wagner and her daughter Katie Sevigny have decided to move their art gallery and gift shop to Haines. Sevigny Studio, located on Broadway in Skagway, will move into the Buckshot & Bobby Pins space after Kristine Harder relocates her business to the Garden City.
The shop will be renamed Skipping Stone Art. Wagner, who manages the shop, hopes to open by February.
Wagner said she was on the fence about moving the store, because though she knows there is more money to be made in Skagway, Wagner has lived in Haines for 20 years.
“There were a lot of contributing factors (in deciding to move), but mostly it was because I was homesick,” Wagner said. “I have a life in Haines. You can make money in Skagway, but you can make a life for yourself in Haines. I just want to be back there.”
The decision tipped in favor of moving the shop to Haines when she read in the newspaper that Buckshot & Bobby Pins would be moving out.
“Everything just kind of fell into place,” Wagner said.
The shop will feature Wagner’s own art as well as that of her daughters, Sevigny and Alexis Alamillo. It will also have other art, pottery, jewelry and accessories like bags, hats and scarves.
All of the work will be handmade in the United States, with a focus on Alaskan products.
Skipping Stone Art will be open year-round with limited hours in the off-season. Wagner will run the shop herself before deciding if she needs more help.
“At first I am going to do it by myself and we’ll play it by ear to see whether or not I can continue doing it myself or if I can hire someone,” she said.
Though she sold children’s books at her store in Skagway, she won’t sell them in Haines out of respect for her new neighbors.
“I’ve decided not to sell the children’s books or toys because I don’t want to step on the Babbling Book. I want to be mindful about the other people around me,” Wagner said. “It’s just good business.”
Buckshot & Bobby Pins owner Harder said she is “thrilled” another retail space is opening on Main Street in her place.
“I visited Joanie’s shop in Skagway, and I think it will be an asset to the mix of outlets for summer visitors. Hopefully, she’ll also bring in some lines that locals appreciate for the off months, too.”
Downtown revitalization committee member Heather Lende said the Main Street space being snapped up so quickly is a good sign.
“That shop has been pretty much continuously occupied since the building was built. It always seems to have that kind of shop that you wonder how they survive,” Lende said.
“I think the trick really is having things people want or people need that they might not be able to get online or in a hurry or cheaper somewhere else,” she added.
Katie Sevigny, who owns a studio in Anchorage, is opening another shop in South Anchorage.