Kit Geary/Daily Summit News
From formulating a concept to finding a space to operate, owning a small business is a demanding feat, especially in a mountain town economy largely dependent on seasonal tourism.
Summit local Nichole Shepherd has successfully completed this challenge four times. Through serendipitous opportunities in which adjacent storefronts became available at the perfect time, she was able to carve out a little corner of Breckenridge where her four businesses are neighbors.
It’s a 10-second walk from this entrepreneur’s custom jewelry boutique, DonLo, which she opened around 2017, to her felt hat boutique, Midsommar Hat Co., which she opened in 2023. Midsommar Hat Co.. shares a corridor with its vintage store, House of Lawswhich opened in August 2024, and his new venture, Baretto 1931 espresso bar.
Baretto 1931 had a pop-up opening for Wake up Brecka coffee-related fundraiser that took place before Breckenridge Ski Resort opening day, then officially inaugurated in early December.
Shepherd’s life and now business partner, Christian Von Graevenitz, acts as operational owner and can be found behind the counter at Baretto on a daily basis.
Originally from England, Von Graevenitz’s experience with coffee began with European café culture. Ski trips growing up took him to countries like Italy, France and Austria – all places, he says, where you don’t mess around when it comes to espresso. high quality. As an adult, he would also take Shepherd to some of these places, which led them to retreat into the world of espresso.
When the roughly 200-square-foot storefront next to Haus of Lois opened around the same time Shepherd was working to get the vintage store up and running, the two men decided the small space would be perfect for an espresso at take away. bar. They nicknamed the place “Baretto 1931,” taking inspiration from the Italian word for “little cafe” and Shepherd’s grandmother, who was born in 1931.
Von Graevenitz renovated the space by hand and worked to acquire high-end equipment. Then he started looking for beans. His childhood and travels around the world made him a little picky about the quality of products he was willing to serve in his espresso bar.
“Naturally, good coffee will taste sweet, you shouldn’t have to add sugar to it,” he said when describing his standards.
He landed at Servant Coffee in Denver, which sources its coffee from places like Honduras and Ethiopia.
Shepherd said the caliber of coffee served by Baretto 1931 depends on Von Graevenitz’s expertise.
“The beans, the grind, the process – (it’s all) about the science of coffee and espresso…We want to raise the level of coffee in the community,” she said.
Every Monday, Baretto 1931 receives a delivery of cookies from Breckenridge-based Peak Sweets. Peak Sweets is ski patroller Brigitte Vossler’s assistant, and both men say they have a hard time keeping their hands off them because they’re so good.
Every Friday, the store receives a delivery from Alma-based Bristlecone Bake Shop.
“These are the best pastries I have ever eaten,” says Von Graevenitz, noting that he has traveled all over the world.
Shepherd said residents who know they are receiving deliveries will show up Friday to make sure they can buy a pastry before selling it.
Baked goods at Baretto 1931 range from $5.50 to $6.70 and drinks offered range from $3 to $7. It is open Sunday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Baretto 1931 is located at 302 South Main St. in Breckenridge.