Wrangell Sentinel -

Tax-free day is coming up this Saturday, June 16 – and many of the businesses downtown are hoping Wrangellites will make the trek through Front Street “hell” to buy their goods and services.

The tax-free days come twice yearly, once in June and again in September, and allow Wrangellites to shop without paying the borough’s 7 percent sales tax.

Wrangell Chamber of Commerce board president John Taylor said the day helps boost the local economy.

“It is awesome and it promotes Wrangell businesses,” Taylor said. “And the dollars stay here. We thank the city for the letting us put this on.”

Chamber member and Ottesen’s True Value manager Ernie Christian said he believes the day benefits the businesses and consumers equally.

“Tax-free day is a very good day for all the stores and shoppers in town,” Christian said. “People save up and on these two days each year, they go out and shop without paying the 7 percent.”

Christian also encouraged shoppers to make their way through construction on Front Street on Saturday.

“It is a little difficult to get to some businesses, but we do have street parking between Angerman’s and Ottesen’s. Hopefully, we’ll have more concrete laid by Saturday,” he added.

Mike Ashton, the project superintendent for Front Street’s renovation said downtown would be a little more accessible on tax-free day.

“By Saturday, we’ll have some more concrete poured between McKinnon and the south entrance of Campbell Drive,” he said. “The businesses downtown, including Sentry and City Market have been accessible and will continue to be accessible and this is pretty important for Wrangell.”

Tax-free days began in 2008 as a way of luring shoppers from Prince of Wales Island on the now defunct IFA ferry route.