Open & Shut: Anchorage adds a fine jewelry shop, a Korean beauty store and a Boot Barn

Feb. 22—Open & Shut is an ongoing series looking at the comings and goings of businesses in Southcentral Alaska. If you know of a business opening or closing in the area, send a note to reporter Alex DeMarban at alex@adn.com with “Open & Shut” in the subject line.

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431 Glacier River: The family behind El Pastor restaurant in Eagle River opened their second diner in January.

The menu at 431 Glacier River, also in Eagle River, is more American and less Mexican than El Pastor with its street tacos and breakfast burritos, said Abel Martinez, an owner in the business that includes his brother-in-law Jesus Gallardo de la Torre.

Other family members work there including Abel’s wife, Jasmin, and their daughter, Kayla. The number 431 represents the area code in the state of Jalisco where the family is originally from, Martinez said. The glacier and river were added to the name because they’re Alaska symbols.

Martinez said there are lots of popular dishes. There’s the blue cheese burger with bacon, and the El Pastor burger that includes al pastor meat, pineapple and chipotle dressing. The meat for both is wagyu beef. The 431 sandwich comes with ham, cheese, avocado, spicy-and-sweet house dressing and other ingredients. A veggie burger includes portobello mushroom, caramelized onion and mozzarella cheese.

The restaurant also serves up their popular chicken wings, with styles such as garlic Parmesan or spicier versions like strawberry habanero barbecue and mango habanero. Other fare includes shakes, salads, ceviches and shrimp cocktails.

Everything is handmade, Martinez said during a recent break from cooking as patrons filled tables for dinner.

“It’s something new, something different that we wanted to introduce to people,” Martinez said. “And customers are pleased.”

431 Glacier River is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 1-8 p.m. on weekends. It’s located at 11823 Old Glenn Highway, at the old location of Jalapeno’s Mexican Restaurant.

Alaska Gem Lab & Fine Jewelry: Jordan Olive loved “cracking” open rocks when she was a kid growing up in Anchorage, hoping to find a geode or diamond inside.

“I was just always interested in sparkly, shiny things,” she said.

Now, she’s a gemologist with a new storefront in South Anchorage.

Alaska Gem Lab & Fine Jewelry sits between the Flying Dutchman pasty shop and Lahn Pad Thai at 2101 Abbott Road, Unit 8.

Olive and her staff provide services such as jewelry repairs, custom jewelry designs and appraisals for things like estate planning or insurance.

Giamante, a former jeweler, previously occupied the same location. The outgoing owners encouraged Olive to open there, she said. She’d had a Midtown space for several years, then made house calls during the pandemic.

“I jokingly called it ‘jewels on wheels’ for four years,” she said.

Olive has upgraded the decor with new lighting, flooring and furniture and other changes. Her quiet Italian Pointer, Oxford, adds his own touch of class.

“He’s head of security,” she said.

Olive makes handmade jewelry for customers, such as wedding and engagement rings. She can turn family heirlooms into new pieces. Clients are in charge of the design process.

She also sells high-end jewelry and Rolexes on consignment. Gemstones in some jewelry include diamonds, colored stones and pearls. She also sells her own work, including glittery bracelets made from spruce needles cast in gold or silver, and a colorful, cabochon gemstone necklace.

Alaska Gem is generally open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Olive is also available by appointment.

K-Beauty Forever: Jennifer Tonn opened this store off Dimond Boulevard after a friend frequently asked her to bring back Korean beauty products when she traveled to the Lower 48. It was just one sign that Anchorage would support the store, she said.

“Right now K-Beauty is very popular,” Tonn said, referring to the term for Korean skincare products.

K-Beauty Forever sells an array of Korean skin care and cosmetic brands, such as Whoo, Innisfree, Laneige and Sulwhasoo. It also sells beauty accessories, like hair rollers or hair ties. Skin care products are available for both women and men.

Korean beauty products are sought-after because they focus on using natural ingredients, and generally contain fewer chemicals than U.S. brands, said her son, Joe Lee. The California resident is visiting Alaska to help with the store’s opening.

The Korean products work very well, said Alexa Aviles, a university student in Anchorage shopping in the store on Wednesday for the first time.

“They’re very hydrating,” she said.

K-Beauty is located next to Benji’s Bakery and Cafe, at 901 E. Dimond Blvd., Suite B.

It’s open Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Boot Barn: Alaska has added another national retailer, after this Western wear and work apparel outlet opened at the Tikahtnu Commons in northeast Anchorage, next to the Costco store.

Alaska is the 48th state to house the California-based chain, which owns more than 400 locations, company representatives said.

“We really wanted to serve the community in Alaska with all this Western wear,” said Michele Lorentz, the store’s manager.

The Boot Barn has nearly 10,000 pairs of boots in stock, said Brian Coyle, the chain’s district manager for the Northwestern region. That includes cowboy boots and work boots, with safety features such as steel toes.

Another 25,000 or so pieces of apparel are also on hand, such as blue jeans, skirts, hats, jackets, plus work clothing, Coyle said.

A ribbon cutting is planned for March 7. The store is getting ready for the grand opening, Coyle said. It might include musicians, leather workers and radio stations, he said.

“It’s a big event for the store,” he said.

Boot Barn is located at 1068 N. Muldoon Road. It’s open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday.

Speedy Glass: The glass repair shop opened a new location in South Anchorage, replacing its smaller operation in Spenard at Arctic Boulevard and Fireweed Lane.

The new Speedy Glass, off the Seward Highway at 6511 Brayton Drive, creates more room for automotive glass repairs, supporting six vehicles instead of four. There are also service areas to ensure safety cameras reinstalled on new windows are properly tested and calibrated.

The new space is designed to support quick service, said Kelli Laski, a spokesperson with Fix Network, which owns Speedy Glass.

“No one wants to hang out in the shop all day, even though it does have a nice waiting area,” she said.

The new shop will also provide more space for home and business glass services, including repairs and replacements of damaged items such as windows, doors and tabletops. A residential glass showroom will features home and business glass items.

Speedy Glass has 27 locations nationally. That includes six Alaska sites, including three in Anchorage.

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