Meet Elsa & Ralph Haber | Store owners

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elsa & Ralph Haber and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elsa & Ralph, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Our family has owned and operated this souvenir store since 1948. It’s been a part of our community for generations, and we’re proud to be a fixture in the town When the pandemic hit, the store closed.
When I was a child, I would spend hours in the store, helping my grandparents with inventory and customer service. I loved the atmosphere and the excitement of meeting new people from all over the world. I knew that one day I wanted to own my own business,
So after two years, we decided to go for it again, and we start from the beginning but started our own store .
I think my thought process behind starting the business was really simple. We wanted to create a place where people could come and find unique and memorable souvenirs to take home with them. We wanted to help people create lasting memories of their travels and somehow also carry the family tradition

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We were eager to open our store before the season passed, so we opened with half of the store complete.The store was not perfect when we opened. The ceiling was unfinished, there were empty spaces on the shelves, and the walls were painted different colors. But we knew that if we waited until everything was perfect, we would never open. So we took a deep breath and just went for it. We listened to our customers and made changes as we went. We are always adapting We have learned that it is important to not get too attached to anything, because everything can be improved. This is a valuable lesson that has helped us to be more open to change and to always strive for better

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Start your day with a delicious breakfast at The Egg. This popular spot serves up all your breakfast favorites,

After breakfast, head to Rocky Mountain National Park for a hike. There are many beautiful trails to choose from, but some of our favorites include Dream Lake, Gem Lake, Sky Pond, and Alberta Falls. Pack a lunch and plenty of water for your hike. The weather in the mountains can change quickly, so it’s important to be prepared.

After your hike, head back to Estes Park for some shopping. There are many unique shops in town, selling everything from souvenirs to art to clothing.

For dinner, head to Sweet Basilisco or The Rock Inn. Both restaurants offer delicious food

But no matter how you choose to spend your day in Estes Park, you’re sure to have a great time.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Reopening the store was a challenge, we had so many people help us and thanks them it was made possible Mary, Alex, Ale, Liz, Richie, Connie, Sue , Elsa ans Samir, Jackie thank you
We are so grateful for all of you. We couldn’t have done this without you.

Instagram: @itsmountainoclock