The business side of the Iditarod Restart in Willow

WILLOW — The 2019 Iditarod Restart in Willow brought a multitude of people to the small community of Willow. For most of the winter, Willow quietly waits for that midnight sun to return, but the annual Iditarod Restart weekend has a way of bringing the whole area to life.

“I think Willow’s pretty fortunate to have this out here,” Alaska Crab Shack co-owner Katy Smith said. “In the winter, it’s probably quiet and sleepy like lot of places in Alaska.”

Katy Smith and her husband Kade own Alaska Crab Shack, one of several food vendors set up behind the Willow Community Center for the annual Iditarod Restart ceremony. Smith said this was their third year at the restart.

“It’s been a little bananas,” Smith said with a laugh.

Even as the event was wrapping up, wave after wave of customers stood in line at the Crab Shack and other food vendors to get food for the road. Smith credited the nice weather for a huge turnout of spectators this year. She said they served at least 300 to 400 customers on Sunday.

“That’s a lot,” Smith said.

Smith said this huge sales day made the trip from Anchorage worthwhile. She said that she and her husband established the Crab Shack more than 20 years ago at the Alaska State Fair and they began expanding to the mobile market about four years ago. She said that branching out to events like this has been working out well.

“It’s a lot more work but it’s a lot of fun,” Smith said.

Smith said that the fair is still the biggest source of their revenue but she does enjoy serving the Iditarod crowd. She said that this sport represents Alaska, the state she’s spent her whole life in.

“I was born and raised here. It means home,” Smith said.

Smith said that their crab cakes are their number one selling item, with the crab bisque as a close second. She said that they will definitely return next year.

“I think we’ll be here for years to come,” Smith said.

Aside from seafood, attendees also had several barbeque vendors to choose from like EmJays Mobile Foods with their signature reindeer sausage. Smith said that having these kind of diverse vendor options bolsters the family atmosphere of the event.

“I think it makes it a more accessible family event,” Smith said.

Sarah Clausen busily sliced open reindeer sausages for the hungry crowd of spectators. She said that EmJays Mobile Foods, the Wasilla based stand owned by her parents, was slammed with customers all day. The EmJays stand was set up close to the rear exit of the Willow Community Center, the first food option in gauntlet of vendors attendees saw as they made their way down to Willow Lake to watch the mushers take off.

“We’ve got a good spot,” Clausen said.

Clausen said that it seemed like there was more people at the restart this year. She said she’s lived in Alaska her whole life. She said that the Iditarod is ingrained with Alaskan culture and has certainly permeated the Willow community.

“It’s just a part of life here,” Clausen said.

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