Bundle Up Archives

Conrad’s Flava Fusion Food Truck

Leave a Comment / Bundle Up / By saraeknudsen

Conrad Champagne has always had hospitality in his blood before even dreaming up Conrad’s Flava Fusion Food Truck. Decades ago, Champagne moved from Kingston, Jamaica to work at the five star hotel – The Broadmoor. He wanted to build something bigger than he could have in Kingston and decided to venture to Colorado Springs to pursue his dream. At the Broadmoor, he was a server and a well sought after bartender. He left The Broadmoor to join the management team at The Pinery at the Hill – a wedding and event center in downtown Colorado Springs. As a bar manager, he built many connections with those in Colorado Springs. Then, COVID left him laid off in March.

“I love the food business and after COVID started I was laid off so I wanted to get something else going and knew a food truck was likely the way to go. I haven’t turned back since March.”

An immigrant to the states, he remembers fondly that his love of Jamaican food came from his grandmother who he lovingly calls ‘Aunt Iris’ – who raised him and would cook with him on their chicken farm in Jamaica.

“I was always cooking. Aunt Iris told me that if I wanted something to eat, I would need to cook it myself. So there I was, making myself anything I could find to put together. That’s how flavors are formed. That’s where my love of food really began.”

Some of the more popular items are the ox tail plate, veggie curry plate, jerk chicken/ribs with slaw and made-to-order fries. Their scratch lemonade is a major hit that come in all sorts of flavors – guava, lavender, passionfruit watermelon and so much more. They often sell out!

Conrad’s Flava Fusion Food Truck offers call ahead and to-go orders. His partner Jaleh Keshmiri helps run the truck with him as well as his four kids that are still at home. He humbly gives each of them credit as he remarks that “it’s a family and team effort.”

You can check out their Facebook to know where their truck will be as it is weather contingent.

Website: facebook.com/conradsflavafusion
Social: @conradsflavafusion

Meet the Photographer

Stephen Martin

Explore with Media

As a vet in the Army, Martin believes that an essential part of eight years in the military truly set foundations for professionalism and excellence that have stayed with him today. At twenty-years-old, he hoped on a plane to serve our country in Iraq and those experiences set forth into motion much of the creativity that Martin has curated with his business – Explore with Media.

As an industry leader in media Martin reflects on what he loves most about his craft, “I love that my work, especially this year, has been impactful to others during such a hard time. From the ‘Thank You Series’, the ‘GRIT Program, and some soon to be released projects, I have enjoyed the challenge of deeper content creation and the good resources and stories they provide.”

As COVID hit, many creatives like Martin have had to make a pivot and get creative as businesses are stretched financially thin. He also encourages individuals to support creatives during this time, “Supporting a creative doesn’t always mean buying a 500 print from them, it means engaging with their company and their channels to help spread their works to others to see, so go like, share, repost your favorite creatives; cause a little help often goes a long way.”

Social: @explorewithmedia
Website: explorewithmedia.com

Luchal’s Catering

Leave a Comment / Bundle Up / By saraeknudsen

Luchal Lucas and her husband were stationed in Fort Carson when she fell in love with Colorado Springs but her roots are in Compton, California. “Strait Out of Compton” she laughs as a line of patrons are waiting in the winter temperatures for her signature dishes.

With a degree from Auguste Escofier campus, Lucas has always been enticed by the creativity of food. Growing up watching her mother cook was an inspiration but where Lucas says her real love of cooking food came from was while she was in the military.

“I was a 92 Golf in the army before I got out in 2018. There was a Major in the Army who really loved the catering business I was creating and really pushed me to continue this business. A lot of the military has really helped me to get to this point. They are the ones who really turned the wheels for me.”

Starting as a catering company, then a food truck and now a full blown restaurant operation in Trolley District’s new COATI, Lucas was intentional about growing organically. Their menu items were grown organically as well.

Lucas goes on, “The customers really built our menu. The catfish was the menu item that caught on and the customers could not get enough of it. We definitely have a southern feel. Our customers would special request items and we would run with it. We have always been for them.”

And boy are the menu items a hit! Crab fries are the top requested item but don’t forget their wings and shrimp, sausage and grits, fried okra and rotating seasonal items.

They also promote their 98 cent wings, even as COVID hit and certain food prices started to skyrocket. “We still have kept our 98 cent wings even when it cuts our pockets but we know our pockets aren’t the only ones being cut.”

As a solider, Lucas remarks on what COVID has meant for her business as a veteran –

“Our mission behind our businesses feels a little deeper. There’s a lot that has happened to get to this point. I’ve slept on grounds before, I’ve seen the ‘dirty’ and as a solider I think about things differently. I was ready to take on COVID.”

Lucas and her team love their customers and asks of the community to really support small business during these troubling times – “Even if you can’t come and purchase, please push our social media platforms. Just by sharing and giving people the knowledge on the street and in store. Word of mouth has gotten us to where we are, we appreciate the organic marketing. We just want our people to be able to work and support their families. We aren’t looking at turning a profit – we just want to pay our people.”

Luchals is open for take out/delivery at both their food truck and their storefront in COATI.

Social: @luchalscatering
Website: facebook.com/luchalsgourmetcatering

Meet the Photographer

Tina Joiner

Tina Joiner Photography

Tina Joiner with Tina Joiner Photography came to Colorado Springs after college to work at a nonprofit in town – Compassion International. She fell in love with her husband Darren and they have two small girls together. After awhile at Compassion, she pursued her creative dream of photography. Tina grew from on a handful of weddings to being the number one rated wedding photographer in Colorado Springs.

Since COVID hit, Joiner has taken a hit as the event and wedding industry has been in shambles following large event/wedding closures. Thankfully most of rescheduled but the wedding industry has taken a toll. Joiner has worked to pivot her business emphasizing elopements and smaller/outdoor gathers.

As a small business owner, she understands – “Small businesses are the heart of our community. It is important to shop at local small businesses to support the hopes and dreams of our friends and neighbors. I love that shopping local gives wings to those hopes and dreams. Small businesses give our community life.”

Social: @tinajoinerphotography
Website: tinajoinerphotography.com

Bread and Butter

Leave a Comment / Bundle Up / By saraeknudsen

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

PikeRide

Leave a Comment / Bundle Up / By saraeknudsen

PikeRide launched in June of 2018 as a program of Downtown Ventures, the charitable nonprofit arm of Downtown Partnership in Colorado Springs . In 2019, PikeRide transitioned to a full fleet of electric-assist bikes. As of January 2020, PikeRide transitioned to operating under its own 501c3 and now operates more than 35 stations and over 250 bikes. The bikes are super simple and easy to use.

One simply opens an app to start a ride, hops on, and rides! They’re built exactly like a regular bike, with e-assist in place to make it a more relaxing experience. PikeRide has always been extremely active in the downtown Colorado Springs community.

Riley Bratzler is the community outreach manager for PikeRide. “We (PikeRide) received a grant from Better Bike Share Partnership and Peak for Bikes and with that grant we were able to do PikeRide School with Springs Rescue Mission (a homeless shelter/community resource). Residents of the Mission have a short class on bike etiquette, how to use and etc. – we really want to get them mobile and autonomous. Low cost membership is also provided for those experiencing financial hardship.”

This was critical to provide as an asset to the community as COVID became prevalent earlier this year.

Jolie Nesmith, Executive Director of PikeRide, commented on how COVID impacted them. “We are more than a bike share program. So we ask ourselves – how do we serve our community? Especially with COVID. We have so many people that can’t leave especially during our lockdown. Thankfully Governor Polis decided that recreation and physical activity was still important. We understood that we weren’t just serving our community physically – but also with their mental health.

After receiving the PPP loan mid March, PikeRide decided to give everyone in the community free 30 minute rides. Knowing people may be stuck and needed a way to get around and be safe, this provided an avenue for anyone to use the bikes not just for recreation but for necessity. At the same time they started a “Adopt a Bike” program. This provided free membership and bikes to healthcare works at UC Health and Penrose Hospitals.

“We’ve had 150% increase in our ridership over the last 6 months. We are a local nonprofit who didn’t close our doors and have been able to continue to serve our community,” Nesmith proudly states.

Pike Ride has a map of their boundaries and stations on their website.

Website: pikeride.org
Social: @pikeride

Meet the Photographer

Gray Warrior

Gray Filter Photography

Photographer for PikeRide – Being a member of the Ponca Nation, Gray Warrior of Gray Filter Photography always wanted to do something great for his people. “I remember going to pow wows every weekend and being mesmerized by the movements of the dancers, the smell of frybread, and the laughter of my elders in the stands throughout the night. When COVID hit I knew there wouldn’t be any pow wows for a while. This hit me pretty hard knowing my people wouldn’t be able to celebrate and share their culture.”

This, he says, is one of the many reasons he became a photographer – to capture moments that others may never see. Having been in photography for a three years now, Warrior loves to see how photography and storytelling collide.
“Regardless of COVID or not, it’s photography that keeps me pushing forward even in uncertainty.”

His moto is explore the unknown, capture the moment, and create memories that last a lifetime. No matter what.

Website: grayfilterphotography.com
Social: @grayfilterphotography

Kinship Landing

Leave a Comment / Bundle Up / By saraeknudsen

A year ago, Brooke and Bobby Mikulas with partner Nate Grimm broke ground on a plot of land off South Nevada in downtown Colorado Springs. Before a pandemic was ever something that was spoken about, the team had a vision to build Kinship Landing which is a friendly boutique hotel that connects locals and travelers around city exploration and outdoor adventure.

“We have always wanted to provide an experience driven lodging concept without totally tanking your road-trip budget or weekend warrior budget,” says Bobby Mikulas. Their suites are a mix of luxury and practicality with freestanding tubs and overhead garage doors. All the details have been thought of thoroughly. They even hired a mill worker out of Denver who is curating their custom bunkrooms. Total there are 7 suites, 27 junior suites, 6 bunk rooms (total of 48 bunk room beds).

One of their goals is to connect people to the best in the city. “We want to welcome them, provide them with an amazing night sleep, but hold their hand to the best of the city.”

The hospitality industry took a horrendous hit in March with COVID.

“At the heart of Kinship is authentic community. We always say people make the place. When COVID hit, we took a step back and said ‘what is going on in the world?’ Is hospitality going to be a thing? But we have an end game in mind. This is a long term project for us whether COVID stays for one more month or ten more years. We did our research and dug in to see what is going on globally and locally and we found that hotels are a very safe place to be during a pandemic. No matter what, Kinship Landing is going to be an asset to this community and to people traveling here”

Bobby Mikulas goes on to discuss the tweaks they are making to ensure the safety of their patrons. He also discusses the importance of their value system. “The first filter we use before we make any decision is to ask if it exemplifies courage, trust, adventure, community and generosity. We run any decision through those values and when people get around a table to discuss travel those five values inevitably come up.”

Kinship Landing has been a project years in the making and Mikulas reflects on the most important postures they have taken.

“One of our core competencies as a team is to remain resilient and adaptable. The only way we have remained resilient over the last three years is because this is a community project. We are surrounded by a cloud of community members that take ownership.”

Kinship Landing is taking bookings currently opening December 2020.

Learn more:
Website: kinshiplanding.com
Socials: @kinshiplanding

Meet the Photographer

Chris Combs

Four Fires Creative

Chris Combs’ journey in photography started in 2017 when he founded Four Fires Creative in Colorado Springs. As a native, he’s seen the growing renaissance in the community through in art and culture. “The city seems to be in a process of reinvention, as an artist, this excites me,” he remarks. His heart has been in photography ever since his grandmother would give him her old Minolta 35mm and a couple rolls of film and point to the forest and surrounding campsites. As an adult, he found a rekindling of photography when he traveled to Uganda. In the midst of a pandemic, he left his day job to pursue photography full time. “It was a scary jump to make but I knew that this was the perfect time to capture stories. Photography is the one of the best ways for us to connect to our world – past, present and future.”

Workshops

Programs

Events

Bundle Up