One of Haines' few year-round restaurants is shutting down after a lease dispute between the owner and landlord brought deeper financial struggles into the open. Alpenglow Woodfired Pizza will close following a final weekend sendoff, ending a three-year run under current ownership.
Owner Nolan Woodard points to lease terms he says would have made it impossible to operate, while the landlord says unpaid rent drove the decision not to renew. Behind that dispute is a more familiar reality for small businesses in Haines: rising costs, inconsistent demand and tight margins that leave little room for error.
The closure has sparked a broader conversation about the local business climate, from the balance of power between landlords and tenants to whether Haines can sustain year-round restaurants at all.
This story follows the breakdown, the finances behind it and what the loss of another restaurant signals for the town's economy.
Read that and more in this week's Chilkat Valley Newsletter.
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Chilkat Valley Sweep
Tyler Swinton shoots a three-pointer during a Deishú Merchants game against Angoon, on Saturday, March 28, 2026, during the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau, Alaska. The Merchants won 57-51. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)
“Bigger, better, more athletic,” was how Haines Merchants coach Steve Fossman described the Angoon team across from him Saturday night in Juneau.
To that point, no one had been able to make anything stick on the Merchants, Haines’ B Bracket team. But being undefeated was a challenge unto itself, said Gold Medal hall of famer and master’s bracket MVP Andrew Friske. By Friske’s estimation, in the tournament’s history the one-loss team in the championship game had beaten the undefeated team roughly 70% of the time.
From the tip, Friske’s warning looked prophetic. For the first time all tournament, Haines struggled with ball pressure and couldn’t free-up its playmakers.
It's time to start thinking about the Chilkat Valley News' annual Garden Edition. We're looking for a few columnists to answer common questions, share tips and tricks and help prepare everyone for the upcoming year. Interested? Get it in touch by replying to this email. While you're mulling it over, check out our new column "Eating Well in the Chilkat Valley."
Bread, the staff of life, at least for those who are not gluten-intolerant. Once you learn the basics of bread making and have flour, salt and yeast in your cupboard,...
