The summer season is upon us ... cross country trails are converted into mountain biking trails, ski slopes are now a mountain summit offering ridge walks for the avid hiker, and chairlifts are traded in for golf carts. Ellicottville has evolved through the decades from a ski resort town to a four-season destination known across the country (and beyond).
As our small village continues to grow at a humbling yet alarming pace, many entrepreneurs and business owners have taken it upon themselves to “sow their seeds” this spring by starting a new business, renewing their product lines or invigorating their aesthetic look. With spring comes a whole new season of life, which is nothing short of what the downtown area is experiencing.
Journey with me each month as we highlight some of the exciting revitalization projects taking place throughout downtown Ellicottville. For June we are traveling an “all-natural” route Around the Block, with visits to the Bike & Bean and Nouriche. Slip on your flip-flops for this one ... our charming village sidewalks reveal a warm welcome during the summer season.
BIKE & BEAN: FEED YOUR ACTIVE LIFESTYLE
Quaintly nestled inside what was formerly known as the Ellicottville Bike Shop lies the new joint venture of Bike & Bean. Local couple Dennis Baldwin and Rachel Northrup have combined their loves of mountain biking and living healthy lifestyles to provide clean, delicious food and extensive bike knowledge.
“By ‘clean,’ we mean antibiotic, pesticide and growth hormone free,” said Baldwin. “We both come from athletic backgrounds, and we wanted food available that supports an active lifestyle. We found that burritos provide clean fuel for our bodies to perform.”
The moment you step inside the shop, you’ll be greeted whole-heartedly by the welcoming personalities of either one or both Dennis and Rachel. When I experienced my first burrito at the Bike & Bean, I was attracted immediately at the fact that all of their ingredients come from natural food vendors.
“Whenever possible, we shop local,” said Baldwin. “We currently get our grass fed beef from Randolph, NY, some of our chicken from Concord, NY, and some of our vegetables from Canticle Farm in Allegheny, NY. Our green chilis are expedited in from Hatch, NM. Throughout the local summer growing season, we’ll be offering even more local veggies.”
Select a 10 or 12-inch flour or gluten-free tortilla shell, or opt to create a Burrito Bowl. From there, it’s nothing short of a fun venture to choose from all of the wonderful and wholesome ingredients to fill your burrito. After you’re finished creating your masterpiece, your burrito is rolled up, tossed onto the grill for a quick heat-up and you’re out the door. Alas, if you aren’t truly on-the-run, you can relax at the burrito bar - it is covered with healthy-living mantras to inspire you while you eat.
To accompany your burrito, you can indulge in one of the BNB’s feature smoothies - the Race Loop Thriller or the Pura Vida - both made with real fruit and no artificial additives.
As a local personal trainer, Northrup’s journey into the Bike & Bean comes from a similar yet different avenue than Baldwin’s. Northrup discovered that all too often, people believe if they exercise, then it doesn’t matter what they eat. Working with individuals one-on-one, she found that they truly won’t get results if they follow that path.
“We wanted to offer a healthy, affordable and quick option for the village,” Northrup exclaimed. There are some great restaurants here, but nothing like the Bike & Bean. It’s an opportunity to educate people on health and fitness, and in turn, learn from our customers about healthy living! We really hope to build onto the healthy community that is already here and get people to visit who are excited about being active and eating clean.”
Both Northrup and Baldwin are true ambassadors of Ellicottville, and they plan to expand their burrito business with the growing community. “We love our simple menu, but we definitely have some fun menu additions coming soon, as well as the organization of active events that will encourage awareness of the benefits of eating healthy and exercising,” said Baldwin.
“Our food is delicious and our bike knowledge is extensive,” he continued. “We really want to promote conscious eating and living. It starts with ourselves, and we hope to create a ripple effect out into the community and eventually the world at large!”
Bike & Bean is located smack dab in the middle of town at 30 Washington Street, phone 716-699-BIKE. Search them out of Facebook, read their reviews on YELP!, and keep your eyes peeled for their website, which will be dropping soon.
Remember: clean fuel + exercise = happy people.
NOURICHE: ECO-FRIENDLY CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES
Join Nouriche Manager Jessica Maynard for hors d’oeuvres during the Grand Opening of this trendy, new, all-natural hot spot on Saturday, June 15. Located at 14 Washington Street (just a hop and a skip down from Bike & Bean), Nouriche offers eco-friendly and fair trade inspired clothing and accessories that embrace the female spirit.
Upon entering the store, you’ll first notice the fresh organic scents and natural wood fragrances. The walls are garnished with an array of lush, soft-to-the-touch and mainly eco-friendly clothes. Everything from long, flowing sun dresses to tee shirts and out-on-the-town shirts can be found. “Everything we have can be accessorized properly for a woman of any age, and made as casual or as formal as one wishes,” said Maynard.
Their most exclusive section may be their intimates room, which is daunted by delicate and colorful nighties, panties and sleepwear ranging from simple to sexy, for women of all ages.
A yoga section (which I was enlightened to find in Ellicottville) is very affordable. Basic yoga pants and crops start in the $30 price range, as well as carefree lounging pants and tees. A section in the back of the store houses a selection of yoga mats and mat bags to meet any preference.
“I am in love with the organic feel that the store has,” said Maynard. “Most of our clothes come from bamboo, organic cotton and hemp. Once we saw all the trendy and stylish eco-friendly products, it was a no brainer to stay on that road. The vision came very quickly.”
All of the clothing pieces in the store are first researched online by Maynard. She also takes into heavy consideration the suggestions of her customers. “Many clients come in and say, ‘Have you ever heard of this brand?’, and we follow through with researching it. More often than not, it ends up in the store.”
Some of the most exclusive items to Nouriche include Yummie Tummie shapewear, a more comfortable brand of shapewear for women that has been featured on Good Morning America; Laga Handbags, a beautiful array of delicately crafted handbags which are assembled without electricity by individuals who survived the 2004 Tsunami in Indonesia; and Daisy’s Swimwear, which retails online for $99-$109, and is offered by Nouriche for $49-$69. “This line of swimwear is for every woman of every size. We are carrying size small through size 24,” said Maynard.
She continued, “I really want people to feel like they are coming to a friend’s house and they’re shopping with a friend when they visit Nouriche. In my eyes, it’s literally like I’m welcoming them into my home. We love our products, we’ve researched them and we believe in them. We want to share that with everyone.”
Take a moment and swing into Nouriche; the aesthetics of the store alone are unforgettable. You’ll even be able to find a dog collar for your pet made by Cycle Dog, crafted from fully reclaimed bike tubes that are turned into collars and leashes. Find Nouriche on Facebook at Nouriche Boutique, or give Maynard a call with any questions you may have, at 716-699-1034.
I certainly hope that you enjoyed strolling Around the Block with me in Ellicottville during the lively month of June. The flowers and trees have bloomed, and our guest-filled streets are back in full swing after a fantastic winter and chilly mud season. Don’t forget to fuel up with a burrito at the Bike & Bean, and on your way through, peruse through the all-new selection of natural threads at Nouriche.
