In recent months, Summit County has gotten a new deli, a second location of a well-loved candy shop, a popular hardware store and a record shop with a new home. Here are the newest changes to the business landscape in Summit.

Independent Deli sets up shop in Bluebird Market

Teresa Toczek and Frank Michaud met working at a barbecue joint in Breckenridge over 20 years ago where she worked a hostess gig in between college semesters and he was the manager. The two became business partners a few years later in 2008 when they purchased Chimayo Grill in Dillon. They also later expanded into the Bluebird Market in Silverthorne. 

The pair saw a prime location open up in Bluebird going into the spring of 2024 and wanted to figure out a way to get into the spot, yet they knew it might be a tricky spot to move into. 

“We were always wondering what could go in that space,” Michaud said. “There’s no hood, there’s no gas … you can’t put a real kitchen in there.”

The two didn’t have to brainstorm ideas long before they decided the spot was perfect for a deli. The Independent Deli opened its doors June 27.

While still getting the shop fully set up, Toczek and Michaud said they looked to customers and friends to help curate the menu. 

“We just took all the favorites that everybody talked to us about and we put those on the menu,” Michaud said. 

Michaud, who was raised on authentic Italian, East Coast subs, said of course those had to make the menu. Toczek’s favorite, a French dip sandwich, made the cut as well. The pair said they serve what they consider to be the best deli meat around, Boar’s Head.

The hours for the Independent Deli are currently 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Rocket Fizz opens up another Summit location in Frisco

Adam Pena already had a background in retail when he found himself managing a candy store. He said it only took a couple months on the job before he realized candy was the direction he wanted to take his career toward. He made it happen in November 2019 and opened Rocket Fizz in Breckenridge. The soda pop and candy shop franchise had locations spanning from coast to coast and Pena got the opportunity to bring it to the High Country. Yet, he didn’t want to stop with one location in Summit, so, on June 24, he opened another.

“We have always loved Frisco and thought it was the neatest town,” Pena said in an email. “The number of people browsing on Main Street, the weekly concerts, the community events … we love the hustle and bustle here and didn’t see any stores like ours in town.”

He said people will find the same inventory of candies and sodas that you can find at other locations.

The store is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Libby’s Old School Records moves spots on Frisco Main Street

Michael Gerity’s record shop started in a school bus he named “Libby.” Weeks before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, Gerity finally got his own brick-and-mortar store on Frisco Main Street. Previously on the end of Main Street closest to the water, Libby’s Old School Records got a new home smack-dab in the middle of Main Street on April 20, which just happens to be Global Record Store Day. 

Gerity’s new spot on 411 Main Street has more square footage than the last, which means he can expand his record stash in the shop. He said, other than that, the only other change is finally being on “the sunny side of the street.”

Libby’s Old School Records is open from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Ace Hardware gets a location in Silverthorne

Ace Hardware set up shop in Silverthorne the last week of January in the former Tuesday Morning space. The spot’s owner is the president of Green Mountain Ace Hardware, Todd Erwin. It is located at 209 Summit Place in Silverthorne. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.