Out of the Ashes

“It’s kind of a long story,” Bernadette Bradley says, about the origins of Bradley House, her south Anchorage restaurant. But the beginnings of this generational business definitely play into its current popularity. “My parents bought the property in 1962 and they opened a bar. They had a liquor store, and my mom started cooking food for the customers.” Bradley’s mom is Okinawan, and the couple called the restaurant Oriental Gardens. “As more people came in for food, they kept expanding,” says Bradley. The original spot burned completely in a 1996 fire. By that time it was 25,000 square feet and could seat 700 customers.

“When something like that happens, you don’t know what you’re doing to do,” says Bradley. They did not rebuild. A few years later, Bradley approached her mom because the liquor license was about to revert back to the state. In November 2000, she started a small bar with an even smaller kitchen. She says it morphed into something else because of customer demand. “Having a small bar was a lot of fun to run. The customers were the ones who demanded the outdoor seating and bigger menu.” The first chef she hired was from The Petroleum Club and he insisted they could successfully offer a full menu. She let him try, and customers loved it.

Before the pandemic, Bradley House could seat 64 indoors, and in the summer, 124 outside. “We increase our staff by 100% in the summer,” says Bradley, but with shifting COVID regulations, they don’t know what their capacity will be this summer. The outdoor seating has helped them stay open, though, as well as curbside sales. 

Bradley says social distancing is tough on the culture of a neighborhood hangout. “Pre-COVID, we relied on rapport between customer and staff; you can’t do that when you’re doing curbside pickup.” But she says loyal staff and loyal customers has kept the business humming in spite of pandemic setbacks.

The menu at Bradley House includes beer-battered halibut, and Bradley’s favorite—the warm goat cheese salad. And it’s a great place to go for a burger or the Bradley Beef Dip, a customer favorite. The menu changes twice a year, so stay tuned soon for their summer menu. 

With all of the challenges of keeping a restaurant open during the pandemic, Bradley remains optimistic. “Being in the restaurant business is full of uncertainty,” she says, but she shares her customers' growing excitement about the future. “I know there’s a lot of pent up demand for people to get out of their houses and socialize and go to restaurants.” 

Visit Bradley House at 11321 Old Seward Highway in Anchorage. You can find them on the web at alaskabradleyhouse.com or call 907-336-7177 for takeout. 

This profile is part of our web series sponsored by the Alaska Small Business Development Center. Read the rest of the series.