Businesses working together to hold Spring Fling at The Clock Tower

WASILLA — Shops inside The Clock Tower are springing into action with a collaborative shopping event Saturday, coinciding with the 2021 Spring Equinox.

Chickadees Gift Boutique, Bow & Arrow Mercantile, Alaska Chicks Co. and other shops nestled inside The Clock Tower are welcoming the changing of the seasons with special giveaways and entries for prizes while handing out free lemonade throughout the day. There will even be a chance to adopt pets.

“We’re just celebrating the first day of spring, whether the weather is gonna cooperate or not,” Chickadees Gift Boutique owner Tammy Shields said with a laugh.

The first 50 attendees will receive free gifts upon their arrival.

“We have really fantastic events here,” Shields said.

Shields said that she loves participating in events like these in the tower. She said all the tenants support each other throughout the year, and this is an example of that.

“We’re all good friends. It’s kind of a little clock tower family, and we all want to see each other succeed,” Shields said.

Shields moved her business into The Clock Tower in the summer of 2019 after the remodel and new direction under the new owners, Richard and Tyan Payne. She said that she’s had shops in all sorts of shapes and sizes over the last 20 years, and her favorite things about running her shop out of the tower are the tenants, the central location, and the sheer beauty of the iconic building.

“It feels like the building has life again, and that feels good,” Shields said.

The Clock Tower is one of Wasilla’s most recognizable landmarks. It’s gone through various highs and lows of activity over the years. Shields said that she’s lived in the Valley since 1999, and she gets nostalgic recalling memories of the building.

“It’s neat to hear from people that have been here a long time because they tell their stories, and they remember playing out in the lobby in the little dollhouse,” Shields said.

Shields said that she really likes the direction the new owners are taking, praising their efforts and her fellow tenants’ efforts to grow the tower’s presence in the community in this new era.

“Talking to the owners, they have a real vision. The wife grew up coming in here and loved it, and that’s why they wanted to restore it and save it. So, it’s a special place. In Wasilla, we don’t have a lot of historic or iconic buildings. This is one.” Shields said.

According to Shields, a new restaurant and salon are set to open inside The Clock Tower. She said that she was encouraged to see more empty spaces filling up with more people coming in to check it all out.

“All the spaces are getting full. It’s just kind of a happening place,” Shields said with a laugh. “We live in a great community that likes to support local. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, especially with the last year we’ve had.”

AK Chicks Co. opened a store inside The Clock Tower around the same time as Chickadees, according to retail manager Hannah Shields. She noted that they have Palmer location as well, and the Wasilla shop has become their biggest storefront.

“I think it’s fantastic, and we all get along pretty well. What’s better for one person bringing in people is better for all of us. It’s good to have a sense of community in the building,” Hannah said.

Hannah said that she’s looking forward to a fun-filled weekend mingling with the public and her fellow tenants. She said it will be nice to see people out of their houses after a long year of social distancing under the pandemic.

“We’re excited to bring in spring even though it doesn’t look like it,” Hannah said with a laugh.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com