One might not expect to find cheese and paté imported from Spain and Italy in a convenience store. When customers walk into the Old Snowmass Market they find that and a lot more in this Snowmass, Colorado, store off Highway 82 north of Aspen.
Feature image: Javier Gonzales-Bringas and his wife, Laura Maine, own Tempranillo, a Spanish-Italian restaurant, and operate Old Snowmass Market in Snowmass, Colorado. They are pictured here with daughter Carmen and son Robert Gonzales-Bringas. Top, middle and bottom: Javier Gonzales-Bringas rolls out dough for empanadas, one of the specialties at Old Snowmass Market. Made-to-order tamales, tacos, burritos and homemade chicken tortilla soup also are on the menu. The market sells eggs from the family’s ranch, bundt cakes made by Gonzales-Bringas’ daughter and a range of other fresh foods.
Laura Maine and her husband, Javier Gonzales-Bringas, own Tempranillo, a popular Spanish-Italian restaurant just a few miles down the road in Basalt. Getting into the c-store business was not on the radar screen until they were approached by the previous owners to take over the little store.
They saw the need for a convenience store that offered quality food. Plus, many of their restaurant employees were interested in additional work, and the store gave them that opportunity.
“We did a full renovation with all new equipment, steam tables and display cases,” Maine said. The idea was to create a safe, comfortable space where customers could find great food made with high-end ingredients in a convenience store.
Fresh and Local
Customers like the Mexican and European fare, which all starts with fresh, healthy, wholesome ingredients. From pork to pastries, many of the ingredients in the menu items can be found right in Maine’s backyard, which is a 13-acre ranch.
“We raise pigs at our ranch. We know that antibiotics or hormones have never been used. We feel really good about serving it because we know how and where they were raised.”
The family also raises chickens and sells the eggs at the market. “Our daughter Carmen bakes bundt cakes for the market. The flavors include lemon ginger, lemon blueberry, orange dark chocolate and strawberry white chocolate. She uses the eggs from our ranch,” said Maine.
“Everything is made to order. We really stress fresh, high-quality ingredients. People really like authentic Mexican food,” she said.
“Our tacos and our breakfast burritos are so big that customers eat half for breakfast and half for lunch. It’s made to order, but it’s fast. Our tortillas, we get from New Mexico. They come partially cooked. We finish them on the griddle. People appreciate a nice fresh burrito,” she said, adding, “We also sell handmade empanadas and tamales, as well as homemade chicken tortilla soup. Lengua (beef tongue) and buche (pork stomach) are popular.
“The Latino community really appreciates us, and the gringos who are familiar with authentic Mexican food like it. For people less adventurous, we have chicken, pork and beef,” explained Maine.
As in most c-stores, customers can find gum, snacks and beverages, too. For people looking for something a little more high end, imported paté and specialty cheeses are always available.
“People can stop here and find good quality items for appetizers if they are putting a tray together at home. We import products from Spain and Italy, and they sell out. We have Spanish Jamon Iberico, as well as imported chorizo and salami. Customers love the cheese and paté,” she said.
The Community Table
Creating a space where people could gather and feel at home was a priority for Maine and Gonzalez-Bringas.
The only interior dining space is a community table that seats 10 people. It’s a gathering spot for ranchers, tourists, workers, landscapers and others.
“We don’t have rows and rows of chips,” she said of the way the store is laid out. “So the center is kind of open. It’s a fun place to be. People really appreciate having a place to sit down and enjoy the meal,” she said.
Everything is made to order. We really stress fresh, high-quality ingredients.
Maine recounted a recent meal around the communal table. “A man and his daughter sat down, and we had the nicest conversation. The interaction was so sweet.” This simple scene is repeated often in the warm atmosphere of the store.
That warmth extends to the staff, too. “We have a solid crew right now. We have a team of girls that are great. They are so friendly. My manager, Karen Vasquez, sets the tone and does the training,” said Maine, adding, “Everyone who comes in is greeted in English and Spanish. The people who come in are so nice. It’s the culture here.”
Old Snowmass Market stands out for being more than a convenient place to stop between mountain towns. It’s a place where customers from all walks of life feel welcome and comfortable.
Maine said, “What I find is every day, people walk in and think they’re walking into a regular convenience store. Then, they look around and look startled. It’s not what they expected.”