March 5, 2026, by Seward Folly Staff

Creekbend Cafe in Hope, Alaska, is getting a lot of attention lately. Its

summer outdoor concerts, attracting world-class talent, have become a big

draw for Southcentral Alaskans. What began as modest gatherings has

escalated in size, frequency, and popularity, leading to conflicts with

nearby homeowners. The concerts have grown louder and larger, disrupting

the quiet pace of life that Hope residents have long valued.

As Creekbend Cafe concerts have grown, so have community concerns. At

first, residents tried to reach out directly to Creekbend’s owners. As

frustration mounted, residents have erected barricades along driveways and

side streets. “Private Property” and “No Trespassing” signs have become a

common sight throughout the downtown residential area. Some Seward

residents with cabins in the vicinity of Creekbend Cafe have stopped

visiting on weekends altogether; others installed sound insulation just to

get a night’s sleep.

Over the past six years, the community has taken its concerns to multiple

authorities. Calls were placed to the State Troopers in Seward, the Alaska

Department of Transportation and the Kenai Peninsula Borough office. Town

meetings were held, sometimes with Creekbend’s owners in attendance, to

discuss the growing number of complaints. Yet despite these efforts, the

issues of parking, noise levels, and bathrooms remain of concern as the

concerts continue to grow in both attendance and volume.

Addressing the concerns about parking, noise, and bathrooms, Creekbend

owner Steve Thomas said, “We’re glad to address those concerns, because

what’s often missing from the conversation is how much has changed over the

last eight years. We’ve made very intentional adjustments based on

community feedback and our own observations.”

These adjustments include expanding on-site parking, staffing parking

attendants, posting clear signage, installing sound-buffering structures,

hiring professional event security, increasing portable toilets, adding

dumpsters, and switching to reusable cups to reduce waste.

He acknowledged that “parking and infrastructure are long-standing

challenges in Hope that existed well before our business,” and shared that

Creekbend is currently working with the Chamber of Commerce to explore a

more permanent public parking solution.

Because the changes ultimately haven’t helped homeowners, Hope residents

started a non-profit called the Friends of Hope (FOH). The Friends of Hope

have contracted Cross Street Consulting, LLC, to conduct a noise study and

an on-street parking study. They have collected nearly 34 separate

affidavits from property owners, photos, videos, and documents related to

Creekbend’s Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office licenses and permits.

These documents were compiled in a thick binder and sent to the Kenai

Borough Assembly, asking them to consider recommending that the Alcohol

Beverage Control (ABC) Board add restrictions to Creekbend Cafe’s

“restaurant eating place” license. FOH has also hired a lawyer. The ABC

Board will discuss Creekbend’s license in April.

According to Liam Bureau, “This (formation of the Friends of Hope) is the

next step to try to motivate a more formal agreement that would hopefully

have a more noticeable change on the impacts downtown. This is not an

effort against live music, not an effort to shut down a business. It is a

natural progression from past efforts. We hope to reach an agreement that

benefits Creekbend and the residents of Hope. The primary goal is a

compromise that allows Creekbend and other Hope businesses to thrive, while

ensuring residents can enjoy their properties and public spaces without

disruption.”

In a nutshell, the 140-page noise study found that, “Creekbend music events

are audible up to a mile from the stage, and the music type scores high on

standard noise annoyance indices for the general public…. Sound levels

within the community exceed recommended limits for public health.

Approximately 80% of all properties in Hope can hear Creekbend events when

they occur.”

Residents say “these levels make it difficult, and sometimes impossible, to

enjoy their homes, indoors and out, for up to five hours a day, three days

a week, all summer long.” Many report hearing music inside their homes even

with doors and windows closed.

Parking is another issue. When Creekbend holds events, cars overflow Hope’s

streets, narrowing travel lanes below the 20-foot minimum required by

Alaska safety rules. Residents report blocked driveways, overnight

vehicles, and campers leaving trash and waste near homes. Creekbend offers

parking a quarter mile away, but most people ignore it and park closer,

sometimes blocking emergency access. Street widths under 20 feet also

violate state fire codes, putting everyone at risk.

Patron behavior after concerts is another concern, according to FOH. Though

music typically ends by 10 or 11 p.m., crowds linger on nearby streets,

returning to campsites, driving away — sometimes intoxicated — or

continuing to party near homes and businesses until 1 or 2 a.m. Residents

say trespassing, late-night noise, and public urination have become the

norm.

Steve Thomas, owner of Creekbend Cafe, offered his perspective on the

conflict and the business’s role in Hope. During the summer, Creekbend

employs about 25 people weekly and, in the winter, maintains five to six

year-round positions — including himself and his wife — who live in Hope

full time.

“Those year-round positions are especially meaningful to us. Keeping people

employed through the winter is one of the reasons we work so hard during

the short summer season,” Thomas said.

He highlighted Creekbend’s economic contribution: “Hope has a very

collaborative business community. When visitors come to town, it’s rare

that they only support one business — people eat, shop, stay overnight, and

explore. We all rely on one another, and we’re collectively trying to make

the most of the summer season so we can support our families and remain

viable through the winter.”

Thomas also noted Creekbend’s efforts to support community services,

including raising over $22,000 last year for the Hope and Sunrise Emergency

Services Department.

FOH’s specific requests for resolution include better noise control —

reducing the number of extremely loud events and better containing music

volume on the property. They also seek improved parking management, with

more on-site options or temporary lots away from public streets; strict

enforcement of day parking rules; and maintenance of the 20-foot emergency

access required by state law. Expanded bathroom facilities and clear

enforcement of no-camping rules on public streets are also on the table to

address overflow and sanitation concerns. FOH emphasizes they aren’t trying

to dictate Creekbend’s internal operations or artistic choices — just to

ensure the impact on shared spaces is reasonable. Feedback and questions

are welcome at foh.inc.alaska@gmail.com.

Thomas sees the debate as part of a larger question facing Hope: “Do we

improve infrastructure to safely accommodate visitors, or do we limit

growth by keeping things as they are? While we understand and respect both

perspectives, we believe that there’s a middle ground, where businesses can

operate responsibly during the busy season, while residents still enjoy

quiet weekdays and a peaceful winter.”

“Because this has now moved into a legal and regulatory process, which

involves the Borough and AMCO, we feel it’s appropriate to leave those

specifics to the attorneys involved. Our focus remains on operating

responsibly and continuing to engage with the community in good faith,”

Thomas concluded, adding that letters of support can be sent to:

steve@creekbendco.com.

As summer approaches, Hope residents and business owners remain at the

table, seeking a solution that allows for both vibrant summer events and a

livable community for all.

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