New owners remodel Magpies Newsstand

Folks have been searching for the printed phrase to vanish for a greater than a decade now, however for Denda and Jack Graves, the vibe of a downtown sidewalk cafe mixed with a newsstand nonetheless has the drive to help a vibrant downtown Durango enterprise.

“We’re conscious print is considerably of a declining trade, however like a pendulum, issues can swing too far,” Jack stated. “Vinyl data are making a comeback. I really feel the identical factor can occur with paper. I feel there’s portion of the inhabitants that also likes to carry a paper, {a magazine} of their palms.”

The Graveses additionally had one other sturdy motive to buy the longstanding newsstand and cafe at Seventh Avenue and Most important Avenue – their daughter, Lexi, is an incoming freshman enterprise main at Fort Lewis School and the couple wished to help her.

The couple moved from Tulsa, Oklahoma, after buying the enterprise on June 10 from Tom and Geri Mulligan, who had operated it for greater than 20 years.

Jack stated talks started to buy Magpies in March simply because the COVID-19 pandemic was inflicting concern, however just like the declining reliance on newspapers, the novel coronavirus didn’t cease the couple from going forward with the acquisition.

“COVID didn’t dissuade us. We’ve a long-term imaginative and prescient of enterprise, and this too will cross,” Jack stated.

Denda added that Magpies is a staple on the town, and the couple felt snug that its loyal prospects and its native custom provided a stable base to construct on.

Earlier this summer season, when the enterprise was closed for reworking, Denda stated regulars would continuously navigate round paint barrels and energy tools on the patio to peek in home windows to verify on progress.

“Folks had been within the progress we had been making,” she stated. “They missed their morning espresso on the patio.”

The Graveses found Durango greater than 30 years in the past – popping out to the area with mates who frequented the Lake Metropolis space, from there they chanced on Ouray, Silverton and ultimately Durango.

They’ve been visiting yearly ever since.

“We’ve been making an attempt to get down right here for 30 years, and it occurred to be buying Magpies and Lexi graduating that introduced us right here,” Denda stated.

A rolling comfortable opening has been ongoing since Aug. 18, after a transform put in new hard-surface flooring, LED lighting, new fixtures, paint and new espresso and occasional tools.

The enclosed patio shall be transformed within the winter with the addition of French doorways that may enable the slim house to open into the patio. The Graveses are contemplating promoting vinyl data within the house.

New awnings with temper LED lights and have been put in masking patio seats and new patio furnishings is coming.

Magpies is providing coffees, smoothies and gelatos made in-house at the moment, with extra meals choices to return.

A transform of the kitchen is ongoing with all new stainless-steel counters and sinks put in and new tools, together with stoves and refrigeration, anticipated to be put in quickly.

A $60,000 funding has already been made within the transform with a complete funds of about $100,000, Jack stated.

Meals companies providing breakfast burritos, paninis, baked items and salads is predicted to return when the kitchen reopens in six to eight weeks.

“We actually wished to get the espresso and the newsstand going as rapidly as we may” he stated.

Desert Solar and Black Rifle Espresso shall be featured.

The newsstand is slowly restocking its number of magazines. The variety of titles are anticipated to extend from 800 titles carried on the finish of the Mulligans’ tenure to about 1,100 titles. Magazines needs to be totally restocked in 1½ months.

A grand reopening is deliberate when the newsstand is totally restocked with magazines, however the rolling comfortable opening will proceed till then.

A Durango Room will function regionally made merchandise together with merchandise from Honeyville, Animas Chocolate Co., Bear Balm and Colorado Sticker Artwork. The Durango Room may even show and provide jewelery and objects reminiscent of canine bandannas made by Lexi and her sister, Savannah, who lives in Tulsa. The sisters promote their work as S&L Creations.

One clincher for the sale, Jack stated, was that the Mulligans’ longtime staff Casey Murrow, who makes the gelatos, and Ruby DeKay have agreed to remain on to assist the Graveses get their toes beneath them working the store.

“We knew nothing about working a newsstand and a restaurant,” Jack stated.

The store has employed two extra staff, and it at the moment has 5 staff plus the Graves, together with Lexi, working the store.

Tim Walsworth, government director of the Enterprise Enchancment District, stated Magpies is a singular downtown enterprise with print publications unavailable elsewhere on the town.

“BID is joyful and excited to see the face-lift the Graveses are bringing to this enterprise,” he stated.

He additionally famous Lexi’s involvement in a downtown enterprise isn’t an remoted case.

“Fort Lewis School and native highschool college students energy many retail and eating companies in downtown,” he stated. “Working downtown supplies these college students actual world gross sales and customer support expertise, which is invaluable for any type of work they tackle of their future careers.”

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