Alaska Sam's Club Closings: Hundreds Flock To Fairbanks Store

FAIRBANKS, AK — Sam's Club is closing dozens of stores nationwide, including all three of its locations in Alaska, and in response hundreds of people flocked to one location in Fairbanks for a liquidation sale, a local media outlet reported.

Sam's Club will close its stores in Fairbanks and Anchorage by Jan. 26. The Fairbanks store is the largest bulk wholesale store within 350 miles. Hundreds visited the warehouse on Friday, embodying a shift in suppliers for many businesses, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported.

It is one of 63 locations closing nationwide — about 10 percent of the total number of stores.

"With Alaska, the cost of delivery and the logistics in delivering merchandise and making sure we have the right merchandise at the right time for our members was very difficult," said Delia Garcia, a Sam's Club spokeswoman. "Obviously, that is a factor that we would take into account."

Trucking business Sourdough Express said on its Facebook page that it will conduct weekly Costco runs from Anchorage to meet demand for bulk products in Fairbanks. The service is intended more for business shoppers than individuals.

Josh Norum, director of operations for Sourdough Express, said about 20 local businesses inquired about the service as of Friday.

"I just threw some numbers together and came up with a route that could work for us and could possibly be a cost-saving solution for them," he said.

Alaska residents also have started an online petition urging Costco to open in Fairbanks.

An employee at the Costco investor relations office said the store doesn't comment on new locations until they are ready to announce plans to open.

Daniel Kamin, owner of the 150,000-square-foot building that the Sam's Club occupies, said he learned of the store's closing Thursday through media reports. He said he is already looking for a new tenant.

"We'll see what we can come up with," Kamin said. "This is not unusual. We are used to it."

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