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

Hi MISSY, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am originally from Kansas City – originally originally – a small town outside of Kansas City. Every summer my family had a huge garden; I mean we grew everything – corn, green beans, peas, potatoes, tomatoes. There was soooo. much canning! As a kid, I thought I was suffering beyond suffering; breaking beans, shelling peas, peeling ALL of those potatoes, turning tomatoes into ketchup and different sauces. Then all of those jars of all of those vegetables that we canned AND suffered through; they fed us for the entire winter. Living in a small town, working hard (when you didn’t want to) and having humbling experiences have been tantamount to who I am today.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I was an actor for years. Good thing I grew up poor! I lived in Kansas City and acted, wrote, produced and directed everything from Children’s Theatre (in one of the top 5 theatres for youth according to Time Magazine) to Genderbending Camp Parody with a theatre company of which I was a founder. I took a short break and moved to Arvada in 1996 and did a 6 month stint at the Boulder’s Dinner Theatre (rest it’s soul). During the COVID Era; Stacie and I were in Indianapolis. There I wrote a play that was chosen for 3 play festivals (one in Las Angeles). Whist in Indianapolis, there was also a lot of time to make stuff; that is when Suburban Gals began to really take off. We did Small Business Saturdays, our Realtor put our products in their Welcome Home baskets for new homeowners, Christmas was huge; we shipped all over the world and would go back to Kansas City to set up for a weekend so that folks could pick up orders or impulse buy. One of the things I love most, other than the flavors, are the labels. The products have clever names and a sassiness about them. I wanted the fun and creativity, that I that I found in theatre, show in the tasty stuff we’ve got goin’ on at Suburban Gals.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Man! We haven’t lived here toooo long, but I think I could find a few things. We love to take folks to Boulder and Idaho Springs. Littleton has an adorable little downtown. Our kids are coming for a visit and we are taking them to a Rockies game. Stacie and I love soccer, so we enjoy the Rapids matches. Brunch at Tamayo is insane! We live in Commerce City and our watering hole is Pour Tap House; we love the dive bar vibe and the many beers on tap. Speaking of beer; we love a weekend of exploring new breweries and finding unique restaurants. There is so much to do here in the mountains; we haven’t even cracked the surface!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I didn’t appreciate all that gardening, harvesting, jar boiling; as a kid or especially as a teen, I did not appreciate the hard work. I do, very much, appreciate it now. Now I use that knowledge, that I gained as a kid, every day with Suburban Gals. All of that sauce making and ketchup making and CANNING; I use it all for our Salsas, Hot Sauce, Jams and so much more.
Suburban Gals started as just making gifts for friends and family. My partner, Stacie, got into making infused olive oils, when I learned how much I love to smoke (meats, not…), then I began growing gardens and messing around with salsas and hot sauce and jams AND doggie cookies (those do have CBD). Eventually, the gifts became products and the products became popular and I was incredibly happy for all that suffering I did as a kid. I wanna Shoutout to my Pop, for teaching me all that I know about hard work (and gardening and all that stuff I said) – and to my Partner in Suburban Gals and in Life; Stacie.

Website: https://www.suburbangals.com

Instagram: Missy Koonce

Linkedin: www,linkedin.com/in/missy-koonce-director

Facebook: Suburban Gals

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