Sugar & Spice was opened in July of 1977 at the end of the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. The store was originally located in a 2000 sq. ft. area in a small mall. When the store was opened the original inventory was a selection of designs (transfers) that were put on shirts. The store began adding men and women’s clothing the following year. The store then carried some jeans and shirts.

In 1980 the store was moved over next to Food Mart (now Eagle Quality Center) grocery store in an area of 3200 sq. ft. The store then expanded to carry children and infant apparel and gifts, more women’s apparel and accessories and men’s work and casual clothing. The store had an area with an old wagon and a tack shop built that housed the men’s clothing. There was a Gingerbread house built for the infant and children’s area.

This location was outgrown in 1984 and the store was again moved to another location in a small mall on Egan Drive, the main street of town. This location was 5000 sq. ft. and the store again expanded. At this location more children’s clothing and shoes were added. The men’s department began carrying more work clothes and shoes. In 1987 more space was added to the store with the opening of a ladies store. This addition included more junior and ladies items. Merchandise for the plus sizes was also added. The “Annex” as it was called carried more ladies shoes and much more in the accessory area.

Then in 1993 the construction of new home for Sugar & Spice was started. The store was relocated on December 10th of 1993 on Egan Drive across from the Valdez Museum in its own building. This location is 10,000 sq. ft. and has a mezzanine on the upper floor that houses the antiques and collectibles. The store now carries items for infant, toddler, and children. There is an area for the men's department, lady's department, and the Alaskan department. This location has three tanning beds, and does custom engraving. This new location also has a viewing area for the two videos that are shown for free during the hours that the store is open.

The store has grown grown since opening as a t-shirt shop in 1977. There is always something new added and other things eliminated. From seven racks of shirts to the only small department store in Valdez, Sugar & Spice has been “Serving Valdez with quality since 1977.”

The store takes pride in the fact that people come back year after year and say hello. Many of the customers have been the merchant marines that sail on the tankers taking oil to the lower states, and some of these men and women have shopped in the store at all four locations. Several of the customers of Sugar & Spice shopped in the store at the original location when they were in high school and now their children are in high school doing their own shopping. Time flies when you are having fun and doing a lifelong profession that is more of a hobby than a job.