100 Years and Counting
Hammer & Wikan is a family-owned business on a mission to provide value to the community of Petersburg, Alaska, through the provision of essential supplies for everyday living and by providing exceptional service to every customer.
The Hammer & Wikan story began in 1921, when founders John Hammer & Andrew Wikan rented a small store front on Main Street selling milk from Browns Cove on the mainland. In 1924, the two Norwegian immigrants borrowed $1000.00 and built their own building where the current Hammer & Wikan Convenience store now stands.
When founders John Hammer and Andrew Wikan opened the first Hammer & Wikan store at 218 N. Nordic Drive – the location where the Hammer & Wikan Hardware store now stands. Over the past 100 years, we’ve grown and expanded with the needs of our community. What began as a small mercantile selling milk and other dairy products, is now Petersburg, Alaska’s primary grocery store, hardware store, and convenience store.
Despite the advancement of our business, we’ve never lost sight of our roots. Our Norwegian heritage is something we take pride in and so we carry an assortment of Norwegian and Scandinavian gifts and novelties. We also love to welcome the whole town into our hardware grocery store during Julebukking, a joyous celebration of Christmas and friendship featuring tables laden with pickled herring, smoked salmon, prawns, meats & cheeses, and the list goes on!
With our new shopping app, grocery delivery option, and our shuttle service to and from the harbors, we’re always looking for ways to improve and offer solutions to any challenges our consumers may face. We give our best every day and we look forward to serving the Petersburg community for the next 100 years!