19-year-old Eagle County woman buys Gracie’s Coffee in Gypsum

Itzy Hernandez was one of the first baristas hired at Grace’s Coffee in Gypsum. So, when the opportunity to purchase the business became available this spring, the 19-year-old Eagle County resident couldn’t say no.

“My dream of opening my own little coffee shop has been fueled by my experience at Gracie’s, where I’ve built numerous community connections,” Hernandez said. “After dedicating two years to this establishment, I feel ready to take the next step.”

Gracie Rounds, now 22, was 20 when she started Gracie’s Coffee, opening the drive-through and walk-up coffee shop in a 12-foot by 6-foot shed across from Eagle Valley High School in Gypsum.

“Owning Gracie’s Coffee has been one of the biggest — if not the biggest — learning experiences of my life,” Rounds said. “I feel like entrepreneurship teaches lessons that are an extension of things that you need to know when just handling life day-to-day.”

Through owning the shop, Rounds said she’s learned the value of patience, kindness, generosity, connection, community and resiliency.  

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“There is nothing easy about starting a business, but I am so proud of myself for doing it anyways, through all the challenges that were thrown my way at different points,” Rounds said. “Being in business for yourself means that you are the one holding yourself accountable through hard times that are unavoidable. Going into this business I knew I would face really difficult situations — and I did it anyways.”

After two years of finding success in the business and overcoming challenges, Rounds decided it was time to sell the coffee shop. In April, she posted to Facebook seeking a new owner for the business.

“I decided to sell my business because I am looking to have more freedom and flexibility to travel at my age,” Rounds said.

Rounds plans to travel over the next few years — focusing on Central and South America — to visit family and continue researching coffee for potential future business ventures.

As she looked to sell Gracie’s Coffee, Rounds said finding someone who could put their full attention and effort toward the business was critical.

“My ethics in regards to owning a business include being fully present with the business that you run and being available for your staff and community,” she said.

Central to this is the connection between the business and the community it serves, Rounds added.

“The success of this business would never have been possible without the support from people living in this area,” Rounds said. “Because of that, I knew that I would not want this business to be transferred to someone new until I was sure that they would be somebody who would care about uplifting this community in a similar capacity to what I’ve felt.”

“Coffee is so much more than coffee. It is truly a mode of connection that I think most people don’t realize the weight of. And I needed the new buyer to see the importance of their role in carrying that forward,” she added.

Pouring love into the community

Rounds found this commitment in Hernandez.

In addition to working at Gracie’s Coffee — where Hernandez said she has “honed her skills and developed a deep appreciation for crafting the perfect cup” — Hernandez has also developed a passion for serving the Eagle Valley community where she was born and raised.

“Alongside my role at Gracie’s, I’ve dedicated myself to serving local organizations, with a notable commitment to Youthpower365. Through these experiences, I’ve cultivated a strong sense of connection to my community and a desire to make a positive impact wherever I go,” Hernandez said.

After learning from Rounds for the past two years, Hernandez said it was the perfect time to pursue her dreams.

“I’m eager to continue pouring love into my beloved community through my own venture,” Hernandez said.

As she steps into her new role as a business owner, Hernandez plans to make a few changes while preserving the “soul of Gracie’s Coffee and the traditional offerings,” she said.

As the business transitions over the next few months, the business will undergo a name change to Itzy’s Coffee as well as introduce a slightly different look.

“We will offer touches of home, like our signature Café de Olla — a special blend of spices infused with brewed coffee in a traditional pot. Its distinct flavor promises to be a delightful addition that we hope the Valley will love,” Hernandez said, also teasing a future expansion for residents to keep an eye out for.

For Hernandez, keeping and fostering the community feel and focus of the shop is the most important.

“My aim is to create a welcoming space where the youth of our community can hang out. I’m particularly thrilled to maintain the cherished tradition of starting mornings alongside my loyal regulars,” she said. “As I step into this new role, I’m particularly excited about the myriad possibilities to foster unity within our community.”

For Rounds, she is happy that even under new ownership, the coffee hut will maintain a similar legacy, including being owned by a woman and young entrepreneur.

“I am so excited for her to take the business over and feel really honored about the inspiration that I’ve had in her life to give her the foundation to be able to take something like this on at such a young age — just like I did,” Rounds said. “I really love that it’s being carried forward in a similar way to how it started.”