March 5, 2026, Seward Folly Staff

_{Photo by Creekbend Cafe}

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.

_{Photo by Creekbend Cafe}

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.