Business on the Move: Cactus Flats and La Tienda

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT

It’s time now for the third installment of KMXT’s five-part series: Business on the Move. Each day this week KMXT will feature a local business that is changing things up in 2013.

For the better part of a decade, Dean and Maridol Brown have owned and operated Cactus Flats and La Tienda at two separate locations. Cactus Flats caters to the natural grocery needs of Kodiak and La Tienda focuses on fine cookware. But as of last week, the two shops have combined forces under one roof, and a new name: Cactus Flats Natural Foods and Fine Kitchenware.

Dean Brown said the fusion of the two stores has eliminated a lot of duplication of rent and electricity payments, and has made the task of owning two small businesses a lot more convenient. He said the intent to combine stores has been in the works for a long time.

— (Cactus Flats 1 :24 “Actually we’ve been looking for a … many years to come.”)

He said the new location, which is across from Alaska Food For Less, next to the only stoplight in Kodiak, is much more spacious than the other stores.

— (Cactus Flats 2 :21 “It’s been very positively … stepped it up a notch.”)

Maridol Brown said the new location will continue to offer a juice and smoothie bar, and the full kitchen may provide an opportunity to offer cooking classes in the future.

Dean Brown said the combination of the stores also led to the renaming of the business.

— (Cactus Flats 3 :26 “It’s Cactus Flats Natural … to retain that name.”)

Maridol Brown said the two stores work well together, especially as people look to incorporate healthy eating and cooking into their lifestyle. Dean Brown said he expects the store to thrive in the coming year as more and more people do just that.

— (Cactus Flats 4 :24 “It seems to me like this type of … service for Kodiak.”)

For now, the pair is still trying to fully stock the new store with all the same product lines from both La Tienda and Cactus Flats. They will maintain regular hours during this process, but did ask that customers continue to be patient with them as they adjust and settle in.

Tune in to KMXT tomorrow for part four of the series, Business on the Move. KMXT will talk with the manager of Kodiak Marine Supply about the expanded business operations on Shelikof Street.

###