"According to the burger chain's official website, every state in America hosts at least two Five Guys locations - every state, that is, except for Alaska. This isn't to say that epicures in the famously snowy northwestern peninsula don't like burgers. The reason why this state doesn't have a Five Guys has less to do with Alaskans' dietary preferences than with the locale's remoteness. The state's nickname is "The Last Frontier" for a reason."
"Despite being the largest U.S. state by area (or, perhaps because of its gargantuan size), daily life in Alaska is colored by resource scarcity. In fact, Alaska is the state that ranks last for food access in America, and the matter extends far beyond the scope of Five Guys alone. Residents lack access to many fast food chains that are popular across the continental U.S. ( including Chick-fil-A), and some Alaskans even get their takeout delivered via airplane."
"In some remote rural communities, everyday groceries are commonly delivered by plane, as well. Last year, Fox News reported that in the Northwest Arctic Borough of Kotzebue (over 500 miles away from Anchorage), grocery prices hit $8 for butter and $9 for a loaf of bread. Restricted access to food equates to a high cost of living, and so, alas, no Five Guys."
Alaska has no Five Guys locations because the state's remoteness and sparse population make chain expansion impractical. Daily life in Alaska is affected by resource scarcity, placing the state last for food access in the U.S. Many continental fast-food chains are absent, and some residents receive takeout and groceries by airplane. Remote communities like Kotzebue face extreme grocery prices, with items such as butter costing $8 and bread $9. Alaska's vast area and low restaurant density—just 948 restaurants statewide, nearly 29.3% in Anchorage—contrast sharply with dense urban areas like Manhattan.
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