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Bread and Butter

Bread and Butter is a homegrown and eclectic grocery store in downtown Colorado Springs. Owners Stacy Poore and Aubrey Day opened the neighborhood store in September 2019, the quaint yellow stucco building sits south Nevada close to the Trolley District. Adjacent to the grocery store is a full operating liquor store that they own as well.

“We both had a long time dream of opening a neighboring store but were on different paths. A mutual friend brought us together!” says Day.

The grocery store is a full operating grocery store with over 50 Colorado produced or manufactured items. Their desire is to support as many Colorado products as possible. Day also comments, “Customers really appreciate how much community products we use. We are like a farmer’s market in that way. We are incredibly proud of this.”

Both with nonprofit backgrounds – Stacy from Care and Share Food Bank and Aubrey from Public Health, they realized that their love of food and sustainability was so important. Their love of community, feeding people and creating convenience for their friends and neighbors is their number one goal.

Poore remarks on this by stating – “We are not our best selves when we are hungry and don’t eat well. We are better friends, parents, workers, better community members and volunteers when we have the food to thrive. Food is a basic need so providing access to it is very important.”

As the pandemic hit in early 2020, the team had to make some changes recognizing there wasn’t twenty thousand people working downtown anymore – most were now working from home. This also changed the way they were raising capital. Instead of self-serve options as planned, you’re greeted by friendly faces who are happy to serve you coffee, pastries and array of incredibly grocery items safely. They are stocked with full produce, artesian breads, take-and-go prepared foods, greeting cards and go-to items like dips/salsas, tomato paste and juices.

Though they are a local grocery store, they remind their friends and neighbors that they too are a small business. “We have the same challenges and possibilities as any small business so right now we want to encourage our neighbors that we are open and safe and ready to serve them,” Poore says with a smile.

Website: breadandbuttermarket.com
Social: breadbuttercos

Meet the Photographer

Lauren McKenzie

REN Creativ

Started in 2017 as a side hustle, and when a full time job was gone – Lauren McKenzie of REN Creative put pressure on herself to curate her own business.

“It was not easy building a business, it was extremely hard but I’m wrapping up year three and I’ve worked harder than I ever have in my whole life. I can never go back to before REN Creativ”

REN Creativ is a woman-owned, small creative studio that collaborates with independent businesses to share their stories through a strategic mashup of a design, photography and digital media.

Lauren studied visual communications years ago and gained incredible training in graphic design, web design and digital media through a host of well known and respected agencies and businesses.

With massive ties to the community, including The Colorado Springs Independent and Support the Springs, Lauren’s heart and mantra has always been ‘community first.’

“Respect us. Support us. Love us. It’s so important to support your women owned, BIPOC and minority owned businesses. Small business in general. We have grown so accustomed to supporting big box stores and forget that small businesses are the backbone of this country, “ McKenzie concludes.

Social: @rencreativ
Website: rencreativ.com

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