The Crestone Eagle is a trusted nonprofit monthly newspaper serving Crestone, the San Luis Valley, Colorado & beyond. Our mission is to connect each other, one story at a time.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...