Whether it’s a new retail store or a car detailing service, local entrepreneurs have worked to stay afloat during the pandemic, and some of them have been able to ultimately expand and grow their business pursuits now that cases have dropped.

In December, Ruby Jane Boutique opened a third Summit County location on Main Street in Frisco. The retailer has been operating two stores out of Breckenridge for 14 years.

Owner Sandy Helt said she was looking for growth opportunities coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, which required her and her husband to wear many hats while staffing was low and people got sick.

“Getting through the pandemic has not been easy, but it’s been a great time to really pause and reflect on the business and really analyze what we are doing,” she said.

Helt realized she wasn’t serving a large portion of the county with her stores in Breckenridge, so she opened the new space at 211 Main St. in Frisco.

The new location offers much of the same merchandise as the Breckenridge stores, Helt said. The Frisco store is smaller than the other stores, so Helt and her team have selected the most popular items to showcase for customers.

“We’ll be continuing to offer affordable mountain-chic fashion,” she said. “My business model has always been to offer fashion to women of all ages.”

So far, the store has been well received by locals and visitors in Frisco, Helt said, and she is starting to see business pick up as the county moves into spring.

The new store is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

As with Helt, Michael Scopel found himself looking for growth opportunities during the pandemic. Last year, Scopel got the idea to start a new car-detailing service called The Retro Station.

Scopel was working in the food and beverage industry but wanted a change of pace during the pandemic. His father always owned a detailing business, so Scopel decided to start offering detailing services for people throughout Summit County.

He quickly gathered customers and realized he could make a full business out of it, which led to the creation of his new business. Scopel now works at the shop with a group of his best friends.

“It has turned into this really cool animal that has exceeded expectations,” he said.

The shop, which is at 795 Blue River Parkway, offers interior deep cleaning, ceramic coating, exterior washes and waxing, headlight restoration and replacements, and more. Scopel said he tries to keep prices affordable and puts an emphasis on customer service.

While car detailing can seem like a luxury service, Scopel said it can be necessary when living in the mountains. Because Summit County is at high altitude, the sun can affect a car’s paint. People also often find themselves with scratches and general wear from snow, ice and trees, he said.

The Retro Station also offers rides so people don’t have to wait in the shop while their car is getting detailed. Scopel said he and his team also work to support the community by hosting school supply drives.

“We take a lot of pride in what we do, and we take a lot of pride in what we give back,” he said. “We’re here to provide a service that has been there, but now it is much more accessible.”

The Retro Station is generally open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Customers can make a appointments through the store’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/theretrostationco.