Edited By: Juliana Bomark, Food and Beverage Editor
Photos By: Juliana Bomark.
Nestled across from the massive and towering Mount Garfield is Palisade, a small town located in Mesa County, Colorado. Palisade is known for its mouthwatering peaches and the local community looking to welcome all who pass through. Palisade is filled with charming shops and small businesses that locals and visitors explore daily.
One of these businesses is Housed in the JW Hughes building, a historic building located at the corner of 3rd and Main Street. This building is 121 years old and hosts a local Art Gallery and coffee shop by the name Blue Pig Gallery.
Business owner Heather Nowak took ownership of this buisness in January of 2023 and has made many renovations to keep the building alive and running for many years to come. “ I heard that the opportunity existed to own the building, and the building is just so magnificent i love history and I have always dreamed of re-doing an older building.” Said Nowak speaking about why she chose to take over this business.
According to Nowak, Blue Pig Gallery is “ A collaborative of over 75 Colorado-based artists, and we represent everything from metal sculptures to superfine art.” They also host a little bit of everything in their shop such as pastels, acrylics, sculptures, mixed media, glass, pottery, and so much more.
The artists all take turns working the store, allowing them to meet the people purchasing or looking to purchase their work.
In November 2023 after coming into ownership of this business the family also had the opportunity to take over the coffee shop that was already connected to the gallery, allowing Blue Pig to expand.
The coffee shop displays the basic lineup of coffees such as Cubans, americanos, espressos, teas, and chai tea. They also have other types of drinks including popping boba, frappes, and milkshakes. The shop presents a bit of everything so all customers can have a drink they will love while soaking in the local art.
Sometimes more than just a drink is needed at a cafe, so the coffee shop also comes equipped with simple sweets to suit the typical craving. Nowak is a baker and stocks the shelves with treats like puffy cream puffs that have become a favorite among attendees.
Geared to accommodate the local community members the coffee shop opens at 6:30 in the morning to allow the locals to grab a coffee and a treat on the way to start their day. The coffee shop may open at 6:30, but the gallery opens at 10:00 AM to allow the staff to prepare for the crowd.
To help this business flow together Nowak implemented a new lounge inside the coffee shop taking advantage of the companies being connected and placing art inside the coffee shop so that while customers are sitting in the lounge they can also get a taste of the art displayed across the store.
Individuals who purchase coffee from the shop can walk around the art gallery holding their drink. Throughout this historical building, art is displayed all across the walls brightening up the gallery and drawing in the eyes of many individuals traveling throughout the business.
Below the main floor is the Art cellar, a play on the typical wine culture creating a fun and exciting environment for those visiting. The basement has been beautifully restored, intertwining the original rocks but adding a modern twist with a refurbished build and beautiful beams in the center of the room.
With the summer months closing in, Nowak is changing the hours of the Blue Pig Gallery after trying to identify the days of the week when the most foot traffic passes through. “ As of the moment for this year, high season, we will do seven days a week which is continuing through the summer,” said Nowak. The Blue Pig Gallery hours updates are posted and referenced on the business’s website.
This business is a staple in the Palisade community. Customers are encouraged to stop by and admire the art even if they are not purchasing a work of art. Sometimes it can be nice to stop by and see the liveliness and joy that the shop brings to the community while indulging in one of the Blue Pig Gallery’s new coffee drinks.
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