Old Town Lafayette is seeing a resurgence, thanks in part to Neige LaRue of Punch Buggy Shave Ice and Jordan Lewis of Vintrey Honest Goods. Last month, Vintrey Honest Goods opened their back doors for the first time, officially welcoming the community to experience Foxglove Bar and The Yard, a flexible event space, featuring Punch Buggy Shave Ice.
For years, Jordan Lewis of Vintrey Honest Goods has been trying to figure out what to do with the lot next to his store. He began the company with his sister and wife back in 2013 and purchased their store in 2021. He’s always had a great relationship with the owner of the land and would use the lot to host Old Town dinner parties as an annual fundraiser.
Since the beginning, his company has been rooted in giving back to the global community, funding anti-trafficking work in India with their proceeds. Around a third of the jewelry, leather, textiles, etc. in the store are created by Indian artisans, and it’s important for him that the goods he sources and co-creates come with a purpose.
“Everything needs to have a story,” says Lewis. “To give back.”
With this new venture, his goal is to give back to the local community that has supported him and his store since the very beginning. He sees this as a privately owned public space, and in addition to continuing their dinner parties, they’ll fill it with programming and events, ranging from live music to yoga to library readings. The goal is to provide that elusive third space, beyond home and work, and each space can be rented out separately to be an affordable event venue for birthdays, weddings, graduations, and anything else the Lafayette community needs.
When Lewis reached out about a year ago about this idea, LaRue was immediately in. This is her seventh summer bringing the shave ice from her childhood on the Kona side of the Big Island to the people of Colorado.
Growing up, it was her favorite part of a hot summer day, and she loved reliving that when she’d bring her kids to Hawaii to visit. She saw a need in the Boulder area for a treat that’s naturally gluten and dairy free and created a company that’s both respectful of its Hawaiian and Japanese roots and uses clean ingredients that Colorado people expect. She says her shave ice has gotten two thumbs up from visiting relatives and has become a mainstay in the Louisville community and beyond.
“Serving smiling kids' faces all day long,” says LaRue. “It’s a fun job to have.”
Because of the nature of her business, LaRue employs teens and young adults from all over Boulder County and is proud to have many of them come back summer after summer. Her own kids work alongside them, and she’s proud of the team she’s cultivated and the mutual respect they share.
This clear focus on how she treats her employees is part of the common bond between LaRue and Lewis, who readily admits that he does not come from a bartending background and is putting all his trust and faith in his staff to craft the menu for Foxglove.
In fact, one of his first hires is a Punch Buggy alum who’s partially responsible for crafting their 21-drink menu, one-third of which is N/A. When asked about that choice, Lewis emphasized his goal to make this a cozy gathering space for everyone, one that’s affordable and approachable. There’s a whimsy to the space, less English garden and more mad hatter.
“When designing this space, I wanted to make it in a way that no one is uncomfortable,” says Lewis. “I want people to feel delighted when they’re leaving.”
Together, Lewis and LaRue are excited to be a part of so many life events here in Lafayette, whether you’re stopping by after the farmers market to enjoy your spoils on The Yard or sipping a botanically-inspired cocktail in the Foxglove garden.
For more information, head to FoxgloveBar.com, PunchBuggyShaveIce.com, or Vintrey.com—or swing by the garden at 107 S Public Rd Lafayette, CO!