Monday, March 18

The Crestone Eagle is a nonprofit monthly newspaper serving Crestone and the San Luis Valley

Business

“The Merc” moves to Matt, previous owners eye plan for Bob’s 

New makeover at the Mercantile By Lori Nagel. On May 14, 2010, Crestone Mercantile Grocery (aka “the Merc”) opened its doors for business to meet the needs of this growing community. For nearly 14 years the Merc has been serving the Crestone community with top-quality meats and produce, often local, along with a full selection of both conventional and organic groceries.  The Merc and the hardware store across the street have been owned and operated by Elaine Johnson, her husband, Steve McDowell, and her son, Matt Johnson (AKA “Meat Room Matt”).  That is, up until this January.  Matt is now the sole owner of...

A family taste of heritage in Center

By Ameille Warner Although Lisa Palma was born and raised in Center, Colorado, her childhood was greatly shaped by the visits she took to her father’s home country of Mexico. There she saw street vendors selling freshly made tortillas; these memories left a deep impression on her.  When Lisa was older, she wondered if offering tortillas made fresh every day might be something she could do for a living, something that would benefit her community. In 1997, Lisa and her husband, Martin, started Tortilleria La Unica, Spanish for “the one and only tortilla factory”, and began making and selling corn and...

Spotlight on Business: Fox Den Studio: Where art comes alive and community thrives

By: Amber Travis-Ballinas & Jennifer Eytcheson A hidden gem of creativity and craftsmanship has emerged in our little town. Fox Den Studio, led by Kathryn “Dewey” Spence, is a haven for artists and art enthusiasts alike. With a focus on custom hats, unique art, clothing, and a vibrant community space, Fox Den Studio is redefining the traditional art gallery experience. Dewey Spence, a Professional Certified Tailor and Milliner, brings her expertise and passion to Fox Den Studio. With over twelve years of experience in designing and producing wearable art, she is a master of her craft. From custom-made clothing and historical...

Emma’s restaurant: A grandmother’s legacy from San Luis to Alamosa

By Chantelle Pence Emma’s Food of the Southwest sprang up along Main Street in Alamosa in 2017, but the restaurant’s roots run deep and can be traced back to one of the first families to settle in the San Luis Valley. The original Emma—Emma Espinoza—began serving burgers and red chili as a side business to the El Patio Inn, a historic bar in San Luis, sometime around 1954. She stayed consistent with her recipes, and eventually expanded to create Emma’s Hacienda, a successful establishment that attracted loyal customers for over 60 years. Emma’s granddaughter, Mona Russo, carries on the family tradition...

Area 420 is shaping more than just the cannabis industry in Moffat

By Kim Black Scattered along Highway 17 are greenhouses dedicated to the cultivation of marijuana, an industry that seemed to explode overnight after legalization of recreational use in 2012. The influx of cannabis growers to the San Luis Valley (SLV) has brought notable changes to our economy, population, landscape, and trajectory. The town of Moffat has seen these changes perhaps more than most with the arrival of one of the largest commercial cannabis farms in the state, Area 420. Spanning 420 acres across from the highway, the Area 420 Cannabis Business Park attracts independent cannabis farmers from all over the...

Spotlight on Business: Luminaries Studio-Boutique to brighten Crestone’s art district

By Jennifer Eytcheson Crestone’s art district is about to get a little brighter thanks to the near-future opening of Luminaries, a new studio-boutique. Owner Shoshannah Asha is passionate about art, sustainability, and community, and Luminaries is the perfect combination of all three. Located in the Sangre de Cristo building, Luminaries will offer a variety of one-of-a-kind items including art and clothing, reflecting Asha’s commitment to the environment. Luminaries is an exciting addition to Crestone’s art scene, offering a special shopping experience. Keep an eye out for the grand opening and don’t miss the chance to visit this new gem in town. Here’s...

Crestone Peak Community Housing applies for state funds to make Living Wisdom project a reality

While it may not seem like a lot has been happening with the Living Wisdom Village project, the nonprofit Crestone Peak Community Housing (CPCH) developing it has been busy behind the scenes getting it closer to reality. Living Wisdom Village (LWV) is a planned multi-unit affordable senior housing project on 4.6 acres within five minutes walking distance of downtown Crestone. The 20-unit project with a community center is shovel-ready, meaning the project design is complete, construction plans are in hand, and contractors have committed to building it. The demand is certainly there—LWV closed the waiting list in the summer of...

‘Crestone Means Business’ is ready to promote you

Lori Nagel and Jennifer Eytcheson presenting at their grand opening of their new business “Crestone Means Business” held at T-Road Brewing. photo by Matt Lit “Oh no, the car needs work! I’ll have to call the mechanic in Salida, make an appointment a few weeks out if they can squeeze me in, take the day off work and catch a one way ride twice, once to drop it off and again to pick it up.” Sound familiar? This is the way it mostly goes for our community. Well, did you know we have at least 5 mechanics right here in Crestone? Sure, there...

A family taste of heritage in Center

By Ameille Warner Although Lisa Palma was born and raised in Center, Colorado, her childhood...

Spotlight on Business: Fox Den Studio: Where art comes alive and community thrives

By: Amber Travis-Ballinas & Jennifer Eytcheson A hidden gem of creativity and craftsmanship has emerged...

Emma’s restaurant: A grandmother’s legacy from San Luis to Alamosa

By Chantelle Pence Emma’s Food of the Southwest sprang up along Main Street in Alamosa...

Area 420 is shaping more than just the cannabis industry in Moffat

By Kim Black Scattered along Highway 17 are greenhouses dedicated to the cultivation of marijuana,...

Spotlight on Business: Luminaries Studio-Boutique to brighten Crestone’s art district

By Jennifer Eytcheson Crestone’s art district is about to get a little brighter thanks to...

Crestone Peak Community Housing applies for state funds to make Living Wisdom project a reality

While it may not seem like a lot has been happening with the Living...

‘Crestone Means Business’ is ready to promote you

Lori Nagel and Jennifer Eytcheson presenting at their grand opening of their new business...

Proceeding with caution in developing Saguache County

Talking about economic development in Saguache County brings up wide-ranging opinions about what is...

“Come Join us by the Fire”: An update on the Sage’s Hearth Remodel and Vision

Most of us drive by it every day. This multi-pitched building has seen decades...

San Luis Valley feels impact of downturn in marijuana industry

Marijuana sales in Colorado have been declining this year, and sales of THC products...

Enshin Karate opens in Crestone

Enshin Karate Crestone opened its doors to the community in the height of the...

New owners of the Desert Sage look forward to implementing improvements & new ideas

On November 22, 2021, Tshering and Ling Dorje passed the baton of the Desert...

Group seeks equitable broadband access; Individual needed to spearhead outreach

Citing a need for widespread access to internet service across the San Luis Valley,...

Has the ‘Airbnb Effect’ hit Crestone at last? 

Airbnb has been a popular online marketplace to find convenient, safe, and affordable lodging...
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