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

Hi Stacy, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Digstown Diner is a fresh, whole dog food brand that developed from our own needs as dog parents, as well as a passion for helping our family pets have the very best health and longevity.

We are in the dog care business as a day care and lodging facility for 18 years now. At the beginning of that time, we had a doggie bakery, making homemade dog treats. We sold them at Farmer’s Markets, and in stores, and even had a bakery case at our day care/boarding facility. Over time, this morphed into our desire for helping our own dogs more – skin and gut allergies, coat health, weak joints, and overall internal ageing were among some of the issues we were experiencing as dog parents. After years of recipe tweaking, vet nutrition consulting, many hours in the kitchen, taste testing every week – we brought the brand to our friends and families and now will be selling nationwide 4/2024!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Starting a new business is a labor of love – you have to commit to the roller coaster of it all – there simply are not all good times. It is a mix of good and challenging. You just keep going. I am proud of the fact that this truly is how we operate. We own 5+ businesses, each with their own challenges.

Digstown Diner has a special place in my heart for the incredible health changes we saw in our own dogs (one being 13 years old, on medicated food his entire life up to 12 years old). Creating a product, and all things associated with that for sale – newer to me, yet zero concerns with how to facilitate this business as well.

Follow blueprints and mentors that have done what you want to do, do not reinvent the wheel in areas that you do not need to, and follow your goal through the harder times. This is exactly how we mentor people at Project One Denver – starting a business should be attainable by everyone.

For Digstown Diner, I want the world to know that we created a quality product to help our own dogs, love seeing the same in dogs who use our delicious food, and I am excited to offer this around the USA in one April 2024!

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.
Teocalli in Lafayette, Colorado for tacos and margs!

Our kids love Top Golf in Thornton, Colorado – which also happens to have great food!

Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center in Divide, Colorado – SO MUCH to learn about these beautiful animals!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband, Chris Velez – for rolling up his sleeves and helping us mass produce all of this fresh dog food.

Our kids – Luca and Rocco – for watching us work day and night and weekends – and being ok with the balance we have to maintain as business owners and parents.

My dogs – the best taste testers in the world 🙂

Website: www.freshdogfood.us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digstowndiner/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacyvelez/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555812568039

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.