State rebranding campaign launches from Bristol Bazaar - The Bristol Edition

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Coffee, local brews, and specialty cocktails in Connecticut. This trifecta forms the combination for Yellow King Bristol, a new coffee bar in Bristol. “It’s a unique place that caters to everybody. We have a passion for coffee, and after learning how to craft different types of coffee we added it to the bartending world,” said Rob Vitale who, along with co-owner Shama Khan, opened their second location at 67 Race St. in Bristol, next door to The Bristol Bazaar. Yellow King also has a location at 920 South Colony St. in Wallingford. “The success of our business the first year in Wallingford was something we didn’t expect. It exceeded expectations,” he said. The new 700-square foot shop has a separate entrance and will be accessible through the Bazaar. The 38-seat coffee shop will offer a diverse menu featuring coffee, beer, cocktails, and light bites. “On weekends, you’ll see mom and dad come by with their kids, people can get a cup of coffee, dad can get a beer or a martini. We have specialty hot chocolates for the kids, too,” said Vitale. “But everything comes back to the coffee – we’re a coffee shop first. Everybody loves coffee, but our specialty is cold brews.” The 12-page menu showcases 15 special cold brews with sauces and syrups made in-house. Flavored cold brews and lattes are shaken with specialty flavors to create extraordinary cocktails. “It’s pretty fun. Other places don’t have that,” said Vitale. A signature drink is the Nuzilla, a blend of Nutella, marshmallow sauce, and other ingredients. Most popular is Cookie Monster made of cookie butter topped with a blue foam. Also known for its specialty martinis, the shop will have nine on the menu with three new Espresso martinis every season in addition to non-coffee cocktails, including four seasonal and 10 to 15 different spiked lemonades, teas, and a variety of margaritas. Beer is on the menu, with the shop kicking off with five local craft brews, including an IPA, a Pilsner, and a Stout. “We never do anything that’s not in Connecticut. We’re always changing up our tap list to see what’s new out there and support new breweries.” Recently, Vitale collaborated with Armada Brewing in New Haven on a new stout and with Litchfield Distillery created a specialty bourbon infused with Yellow King’s organic coffee beans for the base of a coffee old fashioned. To complement the drinks, food is also available. Yellow King is known for its egg sandwiches, made fresh daily. A pastry case will be filled with local doughnuts and sweet treats. On the bar side is pizza from a local business and light bites, including hot pretzels, nachos, and buffalo bit sandwiches. Once settled in, there’s plans for trivia night, live music on the outdoor patio, and a collaboration with The Bristol Bazaar on group events. More on the coffee Coffee has always played an important part in Vitale’s life. After he and Khan met while working at a grocery store and a well-known coffee chain, they embarked on a learning experience to hone their skills. “We both had a love of coffee and wanted to learn more about it so I got a job at Willoughby’s Coffee and Tea in New Haven while working at their roasting plant in Branford. From there, we always talked about one day owning our own coffee company because the passion was there. We began roasting our own coffee and selling to local farmers markets and breweries,” said Vitale who noted he appreciated the atmosphere of breweries and how they offered less of a bar feel. “I love coffee shops, but I wanted to be able to stay open later to cater to everyone.” The rest is history and they opened their first brick-and-mortar cafe in 2021. The coffee shop’s name was inspired by The King in Yellow, a book of late-1800 horror short stories by Robert W. Chambers. “We both have this love for New England Goth horror. We put our own spin on it and made our own logo and character. It’s a pretty cool concept,” said Vitale, of the character that factors into the shop’s lounge-like, speakeasy feel. A vibrant hand-painted purple and yellow mural on the exterior welcomes patrons. Created by local artist Michael DeAngelo, it features the Yellow King logo, along with tentacles holding the shop’s name. Some of the interior details include dark wood-beamed ceilings, rope lights with vintage Edison bulbs, a sleek bar with a copper top and a galaxy mural on the bottom with LED lights. A 30-foot maple back bar, with a live edge that runs the length of the establishment, was custom-designed and made by Dusty Dude Woodworks of Bristol. “We have some cool craftsmanship here. It doesn’t have a bar feel to it.” A second hand-painted mural adorns an interior wall. “Our Yellow King character is kind of spilling a cup of coffee onto the bar. It’s pretty cool. We added a little bit of that artsy dynamic to our coffee shops over what you’d get in a normal coffee shop,” said Vitale who will feature different local artists every month. The location of the Bristol location came about when Carolyn Verikas, owner of The Bristol Bazaar, reached out to Vitale. “The Bristol Bazaar’s core concept is to help small business owners grow their business. We’re here to act as a hub for anyone looking for a way to get connected to someone or another business without needing to use Google,” said Verikas. “Yellow King is the final piece to the puzzle. When we created The Bristol Bazaar, we wanted to offer a three-part experience for customers: shopping small, the event/classroom space, and a place where folks can enjoy a coffee, coffee cocktail, or grab something to eat,” Verikas said. “Rob and Shama are supporters of the arts and as small business owners they truly fit right in with everything we’re working on here at the bazaar. We’re excited to have them here with us.” Vitale appreciates Bristol’s vibe. “Mayor Caggiano is really going out of his way to get small businesses to come to this town. We want to add something that they don’t have already,” said Vitale, who’s looking forward to a soft opening in January. “We’re very excited and anxious,” said Vitale. “To build something really nice, it takes time. It’s going to be incredible.” The Original Story Can Be Found Here from The Hartford Courant: https://www.courant.com/2024/01/03/new-coffee-and-cocktail-lounge-opens-in-ct-its-a-unique-place-that-caters-to-everybody/?share=to1focds03upsgnn1rec

POSTED BY: JACK KRAMPITZ DECEMBER 14, 2023 Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz hip-hopped through three Bristol businesses Wednesday morning as part of a campaign to encourage people to support small businesses in their hometowns. Bysiewicz began her day at the Bristol Bazaar, accompanied by Mayor Jeffrey Caggiano, Economic Development Director Justin Malley and State Rep. Joe Hoxha. She spoke with the owners, Care and Eric Verikas, and was impressed by the variety of handmade products available from the work of local artists and vendors. After her visit to the Bristol Bazaar, Bysiewicz took a two-minute ride to see Bristol Works, which is a workforce development training center. The goal of Bristol Works is to provide individuals with skills, certifications and job-placement services to obtain employment or to allow them to continue with advanced programs. The director, Kim Ward Holley explained to the lieutenant governor that Bristol Works offers four training programs (Manufacturing, IT, Early Childhood Education, and Healthcare) that are free to those who live or work in Bristol and are available to all others for a fee. Both the Bristol Bazaar and Bristol Works were funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in 2021 to speed up the country’s recovery from economic effects of the Covid pandemic and the ongoing recession. Many Bristol businesses and non-profits benefitted from ARPA funding. The final stop of the morning was Family Roots Produce Market on Riverside Avenue. Bysiewicz spoke with April Tibbetts, the general manager at the store. Tibbetts explained that Family Roots takes pride in supporting local farmers and offering the public fruits and vegetables from nearby producers. Family Roots also offers baked goods, breads, coffee, hot sauce, spices, jams, pickles, cheeses and honey from Connecticut businesses. Bysiewicz’s whirlwind tour took less than two hours but brought a nice sample of what local small business has to offer. Original Story Posted Here from The Bristol Edition: https://www.bristoledition.org/blog/2023/12/14/lt-gov-bysiewicz-visits-bristol-wednesday-to-highlight-the-importance-of-shopping-at-local-small-businesses/?fbclid=IwAR12C-evBLs018UojEfMU3xLlDozyrm79TG_E86vVclYxnuR1JgJzeYigIY_aem_AaoP1Qz3xH68NGKx3uRoiTjgmjFpb0a8FDYP4nqR_xdAgY5Hv1J3YT-Qe-6tzKuKulQ 

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We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Care Verikas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Care below. Care, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think folks should manage their own social media or hire a professional? What do you do? We do manage our own social media for both businesses. When we first started Dusty Dude Woodworks as a side hustle in 2017 we made everything from scrap wood and relied heavily on social media to share our story and products because we were really building our business from the ground up. It was very important that our branding be accurate and honest for our followers. We didn’t have the money to invest in another team to do that for us and we hadn’t really considered it for the woodshop becuse we loved doing it ourselves. We could have fun and be creative while still sharing organic content. For our newest business, The Bristol Bazaar, we did consider bringing on a team because of the workload compared to the woodshop. After doing some interviews, we felt that we could get great content if we did it ourselves to start. We have only been open for about 6 weeks at this point but things have been going strong. Social Media is very important to a small business but we feel like it has been going well so far but if we needed to bring in help in the future, we would be okay with that and the cost would be justified. For any business owners who are trying to make a decision, here is our recommendation – 1) Try it yourself for at least a month. This is so important for you to experience and understand the amount of work and dedication that is needed. While you are doing this, you could also reach out to a couple of groups to get a quote for the cost of monthly social media management. No only would this give you the cost but it could also trigger some ideas for you to try on your own. 2) Remember to show up on social media at least 5 days a week (Facebook, Instagram – at a minimum) 3) Be authentic – it is so important to be YOU and have fun! 4) Make a social media calendar and schedule your content if possible. Taking the time to do this will alleviate a lot of stress every day when you are unsure of what to post. 5) After you have tried it for a month, its time to weigh your options. Think through the time is took, the engagement you recieved online and if you feel like it would be worth the additional cost. We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Care Verikas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Care below. Care, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think folks should manage their own social media or hire a professional? What do you do? We do manage our own social media for both businesses. When we first started Dusty Dude Woodworks as a side hustle in 2017 we made everything from scrap wood and relied heavily on social media to share our story and products because we were really building our business from the ground up. It was very important that our branding be accurate and honest for our followers. We didn’t have the money to invest in another team to do that for us and we hadn’t really considered it for the woodshop becuse we loved doing it ourselves. We could have fun and be creative while still sharing organic content. For our newest business, The Bristol Bazaar, we did consider bringing on a team because of the workload compared to the woodshop. After doing some interviews, we felt that we could get great content if we did it ourselves to start. We have only been open for about 6 weeks at this point but things have been going strong. Social Media is very important to a small business but we feel like it has been going well so far but if we needed to bring in help in the future, we would be okay with that and the cost would be justified. For any business owners who are trying to make a decision, here is our recommendation – 1) Try it yourself for at least a month. This is so important for you to experience and understand the amount of work and dedication that is needed. While you are doing this, you could also reach out to a couple of groups to get a quote for the cost of monthly social media management. No only would this give you the cost but it could also trigger some ideas for you to try on your own. 2) Remember to show up on social media at least 5 days a week (Facebook, Instagram – at a minimum) 3) Be authentic – it is so important to be YOU and have fun! 4) Make a social media calendar and schedule your content if possible. Taking the time to do this will alleviate a lot of stress every day when you are unsure of what to post. 5) After you have tried it for a month, its time to weigh your options. Think through the time is took, the engagement you recieved online and if you feel like it would be worth the additional cost. Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers. Eric & Care Verikas are the co-founders of two small businesses based in Bristol, CT. The path of entreprenuership began in 2017 when the two met through online dating. Eric was an architectural woodworker, building screen porches, doors, arches and more while Care came from the corporate marketing world. They had a lot in common but when it came to talking about their work days, it was tough. Eric shared that he had been building cornhole sets to sell on Etsy to pay off some bills and Care took that concept and wanted to expand on it. She could build a brand while Eric was building cornhole sets. And that was the beginning of Dusty Dude Woodworks. The business grew over the next three years from a friends basement, to Eric’s parents basement, to their new detatched garage, to a 1,500 square foot shop with a gift shop and now they have recently moved into a 3,500 square ft shop space. It was a very natural progression. They started with a few cornhole sets, cutting boards and coasters. Dusty Dude Woodworks now specializes in custom woodwork like built ins, tables, doors, and so much more. They really boomed in 2020 (during COVID) and that is when Eric was able to leave his job to be focused on Dusty Dude full time. Care shortly followed that summer as they had recieved a contract for 400 cutting boards a month. The two were able to grow their side hustle into a full time job within 3 years and they haven’t looked back since. In fact, they did the opposite and took another huge leap forward in 2023. As the Dusty Dude brand was growing, Eric and Care already had a new business in mind. They wanted to help makers grow their business like they had. Providing the tools for growth and success and minimizing the amount of “Googling” a small business owner would need to do in order to level up. That is when The Bristol Bazaar started coming together. The couple had been traveling and saw a concept that they just loved. Makers selling their products in a space that they didnt have to be present at to actually sell. There was one register and customers could shop at ease while supporting local businesses. They took that basic concept and grew upon it. Adding things like a Vegas/Park vibe, an event space, networking and classes for the makers, a coffee cocktail lounge and the Think Tank (conference room). This was an idea that had been brewing for about two and a half years until Care met with Katie D’Agostino from The Central CT Chambers of Commerce for their quarterly breakfast get together. Katie mentioned ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding that the City of Bristol was receiving and encouraged Care and Eric to apply for The Bristol Bazaar. After months of reviews, The Bristol Bazaar had been awarded $235,000 in ARPA grant funding. It was a gamechanger. Care and Eric now had a new business to build from scratch. After an intense year or so of planning and building, The Bristol Bazaar opened its doors on July 1, 2023. The bazaar is an indoor makers market that supports up to 32 artisans at any given point. Makers do not need to be present to sell their products and the Bazaar helps manage inventory and sales reports while also providing education and networking opportunities for the makers to grow their businesses. There is an event space that can seat up to 30 and that is availabl for makers to use at no additional cost and the public may also use it for a small hourly fee. The coffee cocktail lounge is under renovation and planning to open in the next couple of months. With the two businesses open, we would say that having two small businesses is what we are most proud of. To build two businesses from the ground up is definitely challenging but also so rewarding. To know that we are able to build pieces that will truly stand the test of time in the Dusty Dude woodshop and helping makers grow their businesses through The Bristol Bazaar – it is just so heartwarming. We told ourselves that we would take the next year off from opening any new businesses so that we can truly focus on what we have already created. It has been a whirlwind and time flies when you’re working hard and having fun. We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner. Eric and I met through online dating – Match.com. Our first date was 12 hours long and we loved every second of it. What started out as just coffee turned into dinner and drinks which then lead to cosmic bowling. Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation? A huge focus for us is in marketing for both of our businesses. It is so important to work with the community that your business is a part of, and Care really dove into that. She is very involved and without the connections made there, the level of trust would be totally different. We can’t stress enough the importance of volunteering, networking and just being a part of the community you are serving. Contact Info: Website: www.DustyDudeWoodworks.com & www.TheBristolBazaar.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebristolbazaarct/ https://www.instagram.com/dustydudewoodworks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBristolBazaarCT/ . & https://www.facebook.com/DustyDudeWoodworks/

BRISTOL, Conn. (WTNH) — The city of Bristol has lacked a vibrant city center for a while, but times are changing. Cranes are in the air, and there are numerous construction projects transforming the Mum City. News 8’s Dennis House spoke to Mayor Jeff Caggiano and the developers of a new shopping and entertainment center called the Bristol Bazaar. Eric and Care Verikas moved to Bristol because of the “vibe.” Caggiano also gave an update on the memorial for fallen officers Lt. Dustin DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy. Watch the interview above. Original Story Posted Here from WTNH: https://www.wtnh.com/on-air/thisweekinconnecticut/bristol-experiencing-development-boom/

By Laura Bailey The highly anticipated Bristol Bazaar opened its doors on Saturday to a large crowd of patrons. The idea for the indoor marketplace was envisioned by local business owners Eric and Care Verikas of Dusty Dude Woodworks more than three years ago. The couple were awarded $235,000 in American Rescue Plan grant money by the city in early 2022 to begin creating the marketplace. “We wanted to help people who are doing side hustles right now turn those side hustles into more,” said Eric Verikas. “That was important to us.” “We got our ARPA funding in March of 2022 and started construction last fall,” said Care Verikas. “Now we’re open and it’s unreal in the best way.” The Bristol Bazaar is a 5,800 square-foot space located downtown at 67 Race St. The indoor space currently features more than two dozen local vendors selling a variety of handmade products, including jewelry, soaps, baked goods, dog treats and clothing. The unique destination offers a creative experience for vendors and patrons alike. A coffee and cocktail lounge will be opening soon for guests to enjoy beverages and light food indoors or on the shaded patio. The upscale interior features brick tiles, Juliet balconies and intricate murals painted by local artists. “All of the work in here was done by a Connecticut business, a small business or a small Connecticut business,” said Care Verikas. “In some way, shape or form, we use as many different artists as we can. “We used two muralists and we just hired a third muralist to work with us. The wire lettering when you walk in were handmade by an artist in Hartford. It was important to us that small business built our business to help other small businesses; it’s all really special to us.” The Bristol Bazaar offers vendors three space options: tables, customizable walk-in retail spaces or vendor carts that were hand made by the Verikases in their woodshop. On opening day, 26 of the available 32 spaces had been booked for periods of time ranging from one month to 18 months. Many of the spaces have started booking into the new year. To read the original story: The Bristol Edition

Carolyn Verikas, who co-founded The Bristol Bazaar with Eric Verikas, said that their first weekend open to the public was “fabulous.” “People were coming in at 9 a.m. and still showing up at 9 p.m.,” she said. “It was surreal. The common word we heard from a lot of people was ‘unexpected.’ People were pleased with the variety of vendors and the overall feeling of the space.The Bristol Bazaar was everything that we hoped it would be and more.” The 5,800 spare foot space, located at 67 Race St. is open year-round and includes space for 32 vendors. Of these, six spaces are still available. Verikas said that current vendors are selling woodworking products, clothing, soaps, candles, tie dye items, resin products and more. “All of our artisans are Connecticut-based,” she said. The location is decorated with several trees and window boxes, which change seasonally, which Verikas said is intended to give the indoor space the feeling of an outdoor market. Verikas said that The Bristol Bazaar will be “ever-growing” and “ever-changing.” In addition, the Bristol Bazaar features an event space that can seat 30 people and a “think tank” conference room. Original Story Can Be Found Here: The Bristol Press

Care Verikas Speaks on The Success Showcase Podcast