Kobuk Owner Eyes Expansion Behind Store

Deborah Bonito runs seven shops in Anchorage.

Bonito is married to former senator and Anchorage mayor Mark Begich, but she keeps her businesses separate from his political work. "I'm totally supportive of my husband and proud of everything that he does, but it was important to me to do my own thing, stand on my own two feet," she said.

Her retail work includes the Kobuk, which she bought with her sister. "My sister and I always loved the Kobuk before we owned it," she said. Bonito said she owns seven shops in Anchorage, with the Kobuk her best-known store.

Bonito appeared on the So We Asked program to talk about owning a business and balancing work with the rest of life. She described herself as "a kind of a serial entrepreneur." She is working on an exit strategy but is also considering a new project: "I'm considering building onto the back of the Kobuk property.. I'm looking at maybe building something right behind Kobuk that is going to be great to help activate the park, which is kind of focused on the community. But it's going to be a great little business model," Bonito said.

Bonito and her sister ran the Kobuk before the program aired on Oct. 28, 2026. She said building behind the store could add apartments beside the Kobuk property.