But owning a small business, especially in food, is a devils bargain in our current culture. The businesses that thrive unironically in modern culture must source unethically, work their employees unethically hard, pay them unethically low wages (are you sensing a theme?), and put profits before people at every opportunity. Every small food business is struggling, as we try to behave more responsibly than our mega-corporation competitors, but can’t always raise prices enough to cover these morals. “This is America, and food should be cheap.”

The Cities of Boulder, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville and the Town of Erie are collectively exploring a potential increase to the local minimum wage in their respective communities, as allowed by state law. At the end of this exploration, these municipalities will consider an increased minimum wage level that is competitive, responsive to current and future needs, and meets as many shared outcomes as possible. The minimum wage amount will be determined through thorough research and community engagement over the next few months.

> Denver-based Chaatwala, co-owned by Pradyut Bansal and Michelle Buse, brings authentic Indian street food to Colorado farmers markets. Their philosophy centers on 'staying true to my roots,' making classics with 'the intention of invoking nostalgia and joy,' Pradyut explains. Operating as a scratch kitchen that handcrafts nearly everything in-house, they emphasize that 'the food is the highest priority and we don't take shortcuts.' Born from Pradyut's desire to share cuisine from his childhood in Bangalore, the business started humbly at farmers markets and now builds genuine community connections where 'regulars return with the same joy they experienced on their first visit.'

The softening of business profits in Old Town Louisville may well be part of a general Amazoning of America, in which retail establishments are dealing with a loss of in-person shopping. Or it could be rising rent. Louisville, is under rent pressure from its location close to Boulder. And then there is inflation and more.

The City of Lafayette and the Lafayette Urban Renewal Authority (LURA) are partnering to preserve our eclectic downtown area and envision what's next for Old Town Lafayette.

Your input is essential to shape the priorities and initiatives to guide improvements in Old Town. Please take a moment to fill out this short survey and share your vision for Old Town.

Founded by Jesse Albertini, Sfoglina specializes in handcrafted pasta made with local heirloom and heritage grains.

Heritage grains are grown with flavor, nutrition and sustainability in mind, as opposed to the cheap and high-yielding common wheat that makes up the overwhelming majority of wheat crops.

Using stone-milled flour, bronze dies, and slow-drying methods, Sfoglina's Pasta of the Month Club is "a really nice way to test out different grains, feature the flavors and learn about the farmers that they come from," Albertini explains.

Executive Chef Marco Monnanni brought authentic Roman cuisine to Old Town Lafayette through Bucatino Trattoria Romana, which officially opened Monday, March 4, 2024. Monnanni immigrated to the United States from Italy at age 22 and has established multiple Italian restaurants throughout the Boulder County region. The chef's vision emphasizes community connection: We wanted to bring a cozy, authentic Roman Trattoria to Old Town Lafayette that welcomes everyone. His wife's ties to the neighborhood reinforced their commitment to becoming part of the local fabric. The restaurant creates an Italian atmosphere through casual décor featuring prominent Roman imagery and Italian artwork. The family-oriented space includes a children's menu and maintains affordable pricing to accommodate various occasions. True to its name, the establishment specializes in bucatini—thick spaghetti-like pasta featuring a distinctive central hole. The menu showcases traditional Roman dishes, including the classic amatriciana preparation. A rotating section called La Settimana Rom (The Roma Week) introduces changing selections directly inspired by Rome, offering diners fresh discoveries weekly. The restaurant operates lunch and dinner service alongside a happy hour menu.

Our last day open to the public will be Friday March 8th (at 100 W Cleveland in Old Town Lafayette).

First Popup of the Year: It’s another gorgeous, sunny weekend. We will be @cureorganicfarm with baked goods for sale from noon until we sell out, so if you missed the cutoff for preorders this week, swing on by. 

In 2018, LURA initiated a project on the east side of Public Road that repaired sidewalks, added additional art installation locations, and successfully replaced some of these planters. This current project will replace additional tree planters, mainly on the west side of the street, as well as portions of existing sidewalk.