The Peak Outpost in Palmer will close Its doors on Dec. 21

The Peak Outpost in downtown Palmer, an attraction for both tourists and locals, will be closing its doors on December 21. The building is set to be renovated over the following months and the business will need to be vacated by the end of the year.

“We're sad to say goodbye, but it's been a fabulous two years,” Owner Collette Hand said. “We love it.”

Over 50 vendors sell a variety of art, decor and clothing in the store. Items include hand-made fishing rods and knives, furs and fur clothing, metal and fiber art, woodwork and watercolor paintings. The store has provided a permanent location for local artists to sell their work.

“It's all very local,” Hand said. “I've loved being able to say we're really authentic Alaskan.”

Hand took over the lease from Peak Boutique and opened The Peak Outpost in early 2023. She originally opened to provide a space for her sons to continue to sell their clothing line, Peak Apparel. Hand also wanted to create a space in Palmer where men felt comfortable shopping. She partnered with Juliet Bartolo to help make the business a reality. The two had operated a booth at the Alaska State Fair for over a decade and knew they could create a successful business by playing off of each other's strengths.

“We make a really great team,” Bartolo said.

“We just fit,” Hand added. “We pulled it off, and it's been a blast.”

Hand is open to starting the business again but said it would require just the right location. Hand wants to remain close to downtown to be within walking distance for tourists and capitalize on its centralized location. She also enjoys being part of the community of downtown shops and businesses.

Renovations are expected to take the building all the way to the studs, a total overhaul according to Hand. They expect the renovations to take a year or more before a new business will be able to move back in.

Hand and Bartolo expressed concern about how much rent will be for the space after renovations. They are skeptical on how another small business similar to The Peak Outpost will be able to afford the space. They remain optimistic that something similar will move back in.

“In the flavor of Palmer… it'd be really neat if it could even remotely come back to being something like this,” Hand said.

The Peak Outpost will be holding sales on all inventory until close. The store will be open most days with Santa making an appearance on December 14 and December 20.

“We're planning to go full on till we shut down the night of the 21st,” Hand said.

Hand plans to return to work full time with her husband operating their business, Alaska’s Harvest Bed and Breakfast. Bartolo will return to her home studio in Wasilla and continue to offer fiber art classes there. Merchandise will continue to be available from vendors directly and events that they will attend.

Hand and Bartolo are sad to leave, but understand that their decision to move on is a necessary one. They have both appreciated the support from the community, the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce and their vendors.

“Go to Palmer,” Bartolo said. “Palmer wins your heart. Shop here, stay here, visit here…it's been really great for me to get to know Palmer better. I love the small town vibe.”

“I say, Palmer just has a heart, and the heart of Palmer is just something that stays with you,” Hand said.