Building a successful small business in Alaska takes vision, dedication, and the right partnerships. For Memory Block, a locally owned business specializing in custom photo printing, that journey began with the idea to help people turn their cherished memories into tangible, high-quality pieces of art. Memory Block, powered by GCI, prints photos on demand and restores priceless memories for their customers.
Building Memory Block in Alaska
For Gabay, the owner of Memory Block in Alaska, opening his own business was a leap of faith. After managing a Memory Block branch in Hawaii, he wanted to bring the unique photo printing and restoration business to a new home.
“When I moved here, I wanted to open something for myself,” Gabay shares. “I chose to open Memory Block because I love the product and seeing how people respond to it.”
Memory Block, originally from Australia, has a small presence in the U.S., and Gabay is determined to expand the business in Alaska. From quick photo printing to intricate photo restorations, Memory Block offers customers a way to bring their cherished moments to life.
“Every picture I print has a story behind it,” he says. “I’m the lucky one, I get to hear all the stories every day. Some of them are really interesting, some of them are very touching and moving.”
Launching this business was both a personal and professional milestone for Gabay.
“It’s my first time opening a business by myself,” he reflects. “It’s really exciting, it’s a bunch of different emotions.”
The business itself offers a range of services that go beyond standard photo printing. Customers can edit their images, remove unwanted elements, and even restore old or damaged photographs.
Gabay shared one of his most memorable stories since opening in Alaska.
“A woman brought in a photo of her late husband in his Navy uniform back in the 50s. The photo had a receipt stuck on it for almost 50 years that did some damage to the image. We did a restoration and her reaction, the look on her face when she saw the restored photo, justified the reason why I opened this business here. We’re still in contact today. She keeps coming back and telling me about how everybody is reacting to the photo. She was really happy. That made us almost cry over here.”
Rural support agents play key role in operation of GCI’s statewide network
Building picture-perfect partnerships
With growing demand for Memory Block’s products, managing online orders, and ensuring high-quality digital transfers, Gabay needed a strong and stable internet connection.
“I rely on the internet on a daily basis, on every print. I need the internet with me,” Gabay explains. That’s where GCI came in. “GCI is the most reliable provider I found. It has never failed me, not even once. I’m definitely happy I went with GCI when choosing an internet provider for my business.”
Memory Block’s operations depend on connection for photo uploads, digital editing, online orders, and point-of-sale transactions.
“I use my laptop, my iPad, my credit card terminal, Square, and my printer. All of these devices rely on the internet in some way or another, whether through Wi-Fi or a hardwired connection,” he says. “All of them work perfectly every single time. That makes me feel really comfortable and confident in my business.”
In addition to top-tier internet service, Memory Block has access to a dedicated business representative to assist with any needs. “Our rep is amazing,” Gabay shares. “I could not be more satisfied because he took care of me from A to Z. Everything that I’ve ever needed, he was there to answer my phone call — even over the weekend.”
Framing Alaska’s future
With a strong foundation in Anchorage, Memory Block is already looking ahead to expansion.
“This past Christmas, we got a lot of exposure,” Gabay says. “Now people know a little bit about what we do over here. I’m really excited about that.” His plans include additional locations in Alaska, such as the Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall and a seasonal presence in Denali and at the Alaska State Fair.
Growing Memory Block isn’t just about business — it’s about community.
“Come by, come say hi, come see us. I just want to show everybody what I can do with their photos and make them happy and show them what good customer service looks like.”
As he continues to build his life and business in Alaska, Gabay remains excited about the future. With a growing customer base and the reliable support of GCI, Memory Block will preserve Alaskans’ most cherished memories for years to come.