Tag Archives: Small business

Quick Meal On The Road

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When we left Durango and started our journey north toward the Denver airport, we needed to find a quick dinner. Fast food options were slim and we really wanted out of the car since we had spent most of the day in a train, bus or car.

So I nosed around online while Johnna drove and located a Chinese restaurant that was along our path.

The place was nice but empty so we were seated quickly and drinks came fast too. We ordered some Cheese Rangoon to split as well as entrees. The Rangoon came within perhaps three minutes and our entrees came a few minutes after that.

Here’s my piping hot Veggie Delight which was, well, delightful.

I tell you that to tell you this. Just ten hours before that, we opted for a fast food breakfast from the McDonalds in downtown Durango. It is located between the train depot and their large parking lot so it made sense to grab something here. I ordered an Egg McMuffin without the meat, a hash brown and Diet Coke (Yes, yes. Breakfast of champions, I know but it’s a guilty pleasure for me so don’t judge) and Johnna got some kind of sandwich, apple pie and coffee.

For these culinary masterpieces, we waited well more than ten minutes. It took longer to get “fast food” that seemed overpriced to me than it did to get drinks, appetizer and entrees from a sit down place.

Obviously, it doesn’t always work out this way but I’m seriously losing my appetite for fast food and so very happy to support the small mom and pop businesses that make up the backbone off American towns.

So, thanks and best wishes to the Shanghai Chinese Restaurant of Pagosa Springs, Colorado! You guys rock!

What do you think? Are you ready to break the fast food habit?

A Quick Trip Through Silverton, Colorado

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Whether you chug along on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad or follow the spectacular Million Dollar Highway, when you arrive at Silverton, Colorado you are at more than 9,300 feet.

This former mining boomtown has a population of about 600 during good weather that falls to 400 in the winter. We had less than two hours there before hopping on a bus back to Durango but that allowed enough time for a quick lunch and some sightseeing.

While most people went straight for the shopping, I went looking for architecture.

This Catholic Church is lovely.

The view down the street is another church.

I liked this nice old train car.

The post office isn’t exactly what you would call a tourist attraction but I sought it out anyway.

Neither is the library but I liked it too. My only regret is that it was closed.

Meet Dale. He plays ragtime music at the hotel.

Here’s one more of the hotel.

Don’t worry. I did eventually fall prey to the touristy shops and spent a few bucks along the way.

Check out the Make the Journey Fun Facebook page for a video of one very special experience I had while there.

I took a bunch of pictures in Silverton so I suspect you’ll hear more about it in the future. Stay tuned!

Pizza And Sweets At Farinella’s

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Farinella’s is a small artisanal bakery and pizzeria that feels both fresh and modern and also like it has been there for generations. We were seeking shelter and a place to rest during a rain shower after a stroll through Central Park. This place was nearby.

It’s a cozy spot with just a few small tables and a robust grab and go business. Most customers were just picking up a slice to go. But I was glad to dwell a while with friends, warm and dry. We had a table in the window, a terrific vantage point for watching the world go by.

The staff was friendly, helpful and eager to answer questions despite being busy.

We started with pastries and stayed there long enough we tried the pizza too. It was a delicious treat, especially with a cold Diet Coke to wash it down.

Note that they do have a clean restroom for customers, an important thing to know in a city with limited public restroom access. Get their history and view the menu at their website.

A Twofer

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I’m a sucker for a great sign and these two in Durango, Colorado didn’t disappoint. Can you read them?

Stick and Stones Handmade and Nobody’s Inn.

The Inn caught my eye because it’s a historic building in the heart of downtown Durango. The rooms are apartment style and each is decorated with its own flair. I want to return someday and am thinking this might be the place to stay. Charming and nice on a budget sounds good to me.

Besides, they have a great sign and I have found that places that attend to the small details like cool signage are often attentive to other small details.

Here’s one more view of that stretch of street. It’s walkable, eclectic and all the store signs are worthy of consideration.

Vintage en Vogue

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There’s a great new vintage shop in downtown Logan, Ohio. Vintage en Vogue is a neat boutique packed with antiques, vintage items, art, decor and even some clothes and accessories.

Everything seems to be good quality and the prices are fair.

It’s also staged so beautifully that I wanted to linger a while. I’m saving for some upcoming adventures but wanted to support them so I bought a cute sunflower T-shirt with the promise to go back again soon.

The owner was delightful and so very welcoming that I imagine there will be a return trip in my near future. You should check them out too!

Find Vintage en Vogue at 45 West Main Street in Logan and be sure to follow them on Facebook too. While you’re in town, check out the other downtown shops as well as the Logan Antique Mall on Rt. 664.

Supporting Small Businesses: A Gift To Myself

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One Christmas gifts to myself was the act of going into some small businesses in Ligonier and buying some things specifically to help them out. Small businesses play a vital role in any community, especially a place like Ligonier where the economy is based on tourism and locally owned businesses. I like to support them when I can.

There aren’t many chains in this town. Instead, you find small specialty shops and restaurants where everything is prepared to order and where greasy sacks of food aren’t passed through car windows.

These places often employ just a few people but they do far more for the community than the big box store that sends its profits to an out-of-state corporate office or, even worse, an online retailer that has no presence in the community at all.

In Ligonier, local businesses help sponsor events like the Christmas lights on the Diamond. They support the Chamber of Commerce and refer customers to other businesses in town. The level of community spirit and involvement here is enviable.

The ice cream parlor even sells these tokens so that first responders can enjoy free ice cream when they come in.

I picked up a handmade Russian ornament from a Christmas store and a bracelet made with silk infused piano wire from a boutique that sells handmade goods. That bracelet is officially my favorite piece of jewelry right now. I found a pretty plum scarf and Christmas broach at a ladies clothing store, delicious chocolates from the candy store and a hand painted miniature from another delightful shop.

My friend bought a warm winter coat from a shoe and outdoor wear store that has been in business for over a century. The current proprietor is the third generation to own it.

I didn’t especially need anything I bought but I found some small treats for myself. Plus, it inspired great joy to buy some small luxury items while supporting those shops.

If I were far wealthier than I am, I would have bought this life sized Santa or one of the other half dozen others they had with different faces and different colored robes. Each is unique and several hundred dollars beyond my budget.

No one does a happy dance like a small business owner who just made a sale and I was glad to contribute to their good day- even if I couldn’t afford the gorgeous Santa.