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GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — The past few years have been a roller-coaster ride for Glenwood residents Corey and Becky Spagnolo.
After fire destroyed their Spagnolo's Restaurant in the Grand Avenue Mall more than three years ago, they found themselves the owners of a new pizza restaurant in May 2009.
However, since they took over the Russo's Pizza location in the Van Rand Center near the Glenwood Springs High School, it's been a rough seven months.
“We just can't keep up,” Becky said. “We're just going to let it go.”
Come Dec. 29, Becky and Corey Spagnolo will again say goodbye to their restaurant. Not because of a fire as the first time, but just another victim of the current recession.
“The economy just took a dive,” Becky said. “Everyone is down. We just don't have the cushion that we used to have.”
Becky said that at their old restaurant they used to be able to make enough through the tourist season to get them through the slow shoulder season until the holidays hit. That would allow them to get through until the tourist season came on again. But those days are gone for small business owners.
“Usually, between the holidays it's really good,” Becky said. “But instead, this year, it took a turn the other way.”
She said that she and her husband, Corey, have had to keep only a “skeleton staff” to operate the business, six days per week, while the two of them were putting in 12-hour days.
“We were working too many hours by ourselves,” she said. “We are so exhausted right now, we are like, we are through.”
Despite having a positive summer season, Becky said that they were hoping the holiday season would pick up after a very poor October.
“We had a great summer, and September was OK, but it just nose-dived in October,” she said. “We haven't paid ourselves for three months.”
The couple owned Spagnolo's Restaurant for nine years in the Grand Avenue Mall before it burned on March 19, 2006. They spent more than a year looking to relocate their restaurant, with no luck.
They then opened the Corner Gourmet Coffee Store at 11th and Grand Avenue in December 2007.
When they purchased the pizza place from previous owner John Cannella, they kept the pizza and added a menu full of Italian dishes, reminiscent of their old restaurant. They thought that it would spark more interest in their business. But, apparently, it didn't have the draw they were hoping for.
While Becky is sad that her restaurant is coming to a close, again, she remains optimistic about the future.
“It's a bummer,” she said. “But who knows what is next.”
jgardner@postindependent.com
After fire destroyed their Spagnolo's Restaurant in the Grand Avenue Mall more than three years ago, they found themselves the owners of a new pizza restaurant in May 2009.
However, since they took over the Russo's Pizza location in the Van Rand Center near the Glenwood Springs High School, it's been a rough seven months.
“We just can't keep up,” Becky said. “We're just going to let it go.”
Come Dec. 29, Becky and Corey Spagnolo will again say goodbye to their restaurant. Not because of a fire as the first time, but just another victim of the current recession.
“The economy just took a dive,” Becky said. “Everyone is down. We just don't have the cushion that we used to have.”
Becky said that at their old restaurant they used to be able to make enough through the tourist season to get them through the slow shoulder season until the holidays hit. That would allow them to get through until the tourist season came on again. But those days are gone for small business owners.
“Usually, between the holidays it's really good,” Becky said. “But instead, this year, it took a turn the other way.”
She said that she and her husband, Corey, have had to keep only a “skeleton staff” to operate the business, six days per week, while the two of them were putting in 12-hour days.
“We were working too many hours by ourselves,” she said. “We are so exhausted right now, we are like, we are through.”
Despite having a positive summer season, Becky said that they were hoping the holiday season would pick up after a very poor October.
“We had a great summer, and September was OK, but it just nose-dived in October,” she said. “We haven't paid ourselves for three months.”
The couple owned Spagnolo's Restaurant for nine years in the Grand Avenue Mall before it burned on March 19, 2006. They spent more than a year looking to relocate their restaurant, with no luck.
They then opened the Corner Gourmet Coffee Store at 11th and Grand Avenue in December 2007.
When they purchased the pizza place from previous owner John Cannella, they kept the pizza and added a menu full of Italian dishes, reminiscent of their old restaurant. They thought that it would spark more interest in their business. But, apparently, it didn't have the draw they were hoping for.
While Becky is sad that her restaurant is coming to a close, again, she remains optimistic about the future.
“It's a bummer,” she said. “But who knows what is next.”
jgardner@postindependent.com
