Meet Steph Traylor | Coffee shop owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Steph Traylor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Steph, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started Dusky to make a difference in the areas of the community that mattered most to me. Coffee and music are great avenues for community impact, as they both inspire connection and creativity. I also have always been drawn to the idea of creating opportunities for young people to live/work in Steamboat, offering the same opportunities that I was given in my mid twenties, trying to make the ski-bum lifestyle work. It’s much more challenging for young people make it work in an increasingly expensive town, but it’s my goal to be a part of this accessibility.

What should our readers know about your business?
I opened Dusky after having kids and going through covid, searching for a creative outlet. I owned a business previously that sold just before covid and wanted something new that would keep me in Steamboat, allow flexibility with my family and fill a community need. At the time, I was sober and realized that steamboat lacked safe and inclusive spaces for connection, support and creativity without being a bar. My love for both coffee and music along with being a mom of young kids offered a great platform to build such a space. Throughout the years, Dusky has become known as a community hub and inclusive space for a huge array of non profits and support groups, including recovery services, kids philanthropy groups, service industry support groups, tutoring services and creative groups.

We have not been without challenges, as we’ve navigated employee shortages and the opening and closing of a second location. In opening our second location, we quickly realized that more is not necessarily better. We stretched ourselves thin, lost sight of our mission, vision and values. We opened and closed our second shop in under 6 months, which is something I’m incredibly proud of. We tried something new and realized the partnership we committed to wasn’t working and it was taking away from or core values of team care and community investment.

I want people to look to Dusky as more than a high quality coffee shop- we are a safe and inclusive space to work and to gather and we represent a music hub. We sell records, host a local radio station who broadcasts live from our shop and we have live shows throughout the year. We are advocates for mental health and have a kids philanthropy group that gives back to community with weekly giving projects. Our brand, our story and our mission is about coffee, music and community and we hope to inspire every person who walks through our doors to give back and support the causes they care about.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d recommend a walk along the Yampa River on the Core Trail, stopping by Off the Beaten Path bookstore for a good read and a soak in the Strawberry Hot Springs. For breakfast, I’d hit up Paramount Cafe on the mountain before hitting the slopes if you’re visiting during winter.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Rex Bryce, owner of Rex’s Restaurant Group, was my first boss in town. His business philosophy has always been about his team and community and he has offered such a wonderful example of how philanthropy could and should be a significant part of any business venture.

My first job as a kid in Seattle was with Starbucks over 20 years ago and inspired Dusky to instill a sense of giving as a pillar. Starbucks built into their mission an expectation of philanthropy and team care, which has truly shaped who I am today and my dedication to community investment.

Website: https://duskygrousecoffee.com

Instagram: @Dusky_Grouse_Coffee

Facebook: @Dusky_Grouse_Coffee