November has a way of slowing us down. Between the first snow on the Rock and the smell of turkey in the oven, we find ourselves thinking about what we’re grateful for. High on our list this year: the men and women who run Castle Rock’s small businesses.
By Steve Clark
They’re the ones who know your coffee order before you reach the counter, who tune your kid’s bike before the big ride, and who stock their shelves with work from Colorado makers. Castle Rock keeps growing, but its heart still beats in these locally owned shops. Every dollar spent with them helps a neighbor make payroll, keeps a storefront lit, and gives our town a personality no strip mall can copy.
Here are six local businesses we’re thankful for this season.
For more than 25 years, Crowfoot Valley Coffee has been pouring Castle Rock’s morning cup. The family-run café sources beans from small farms and turns into a gathering spot for local brews in the afternoon. When times got hard, the family went without paychecks to keep the doors open, and loyal customers kept coming back.
734 Wilcox Street, Suite 102
Mark and KC Neel turned a small downtown storefront into Castle Rock Bike & Ski, a year-round hub for riders and skiers. Their roots run deep: Mark has coached the Castle Rock Youth Cycling Club for years and helps build local trails, while KC leads the Downtown Merchants Association.
25 S. Wilcox Street
At Mod Mountain Boutique, mother-daughter team Jayne Tien and Morgan Brubaker offer women’s clothing, gifts and accessories in sizes from extra small to 3X, alongside pieces by local artists and designers.
215 Wilcox Street
At The Emporium, you’ll find more than 25 vendors under one roof, from antiques and local art to candles, jewelry and home decor. The Bomans have built a place where you can lose an afternoon and find the perfect gift.
200 Perry Street
Few places capture Castle Rock’s history like The Barn. The building has stood here for well over a century, and today it’s home to more than 20 shops selling vintage finds, quilting supplies and one-of-a-kind decor.
400 Third Street
And outside downtown, Cookies & Crèma proves great local spots are everywhere. Owner April Arellano serves locally roasted coffee, house-made cookies and scones, and hearty breakfasts that keep regulars coming back.
4284 Trail Boss Drive
Six businesses, six stories of hard work and hometown pride. Castle Rock has hundreds more just like them.
Five Ways to Show Your Gratitude
This Thanksgiving season, let’s show these neighbors how much they mean to us. Stop in, shop local, and say thanks in person. It’s a small gesture that means the world to the people who make Castle Rock home.
- Shop in person. Stop by, browse and say hello to the owner.
- Buy gift cards. They make easy holiday gifts and bring new customers through the door.
- Leave a review. A few kind words on Google go a long way for a small business.
- Follow and share. Like their social media posts and share them with friends.
- Spread the word. Tell a neighbor about the shop you love.
Our thank-you to Castle Rock
At Search Castle Rock, we believe these stories deserve more than a listing in the back of a magazine. That’s why we’ve begun building searchcastlerock.com into a resource for our whole community, one that celebrates local businesses and introduces you to the people who run them. In the months ahead, we’ll be visiting with Castle Rock business owners to tell their stories in their own words, and adding a local business directory so you can find them easily.
Know a business owner who deserves the spotlight? Maybe it’s the mechanic who always tells you the truth, or the restaurant that feeds the high school team after every game. Tell us at contribute@searchcastlerock.com. We’d love to share their story.
Your town. Your stories. Your magazine.