Local snack shop Ay! Chabela has expanded into an adjacent unit, bringing exciting new opportunities and offerings for the Montrose community.

A quick turnaround of just 18 days allowed the shop to more than double in size, creating an even more welcoming social spot. They have new menu items, additional seating, and a dedicated children’s area.

Owner Andrea Mastrud shared the story of how the expansion began. After learning that the unit next door had become available, Andrea knew they had to act quickly.

“So once the unit finally became available right next to us, we kind of just had to jump on it. December’s a tough month, but it was one of those things that if we didn’t take the risk and if we didn’t just go for it, who knows if it would have been here by the summer months,” Andrea explained.

The expansion was a true team effort, with Andrea’s husband, her mother, and a circle of friends pitching in to make it happen.

“Without their help, we would have had to pay thousands and thousands of dollars for all of these things,” Andrea said. Their hard work and dedication enabled the team to complete the project quickly.

“We acquired this unit Dec. 1; [it took] nineteen days of working around the clock to pretty much move out of Bad Princess (Boutique), give that unit up, and move everything over here.”

One of the most notable additions to the shop is a brand-new children’s area, inspired by Andrea’s own parenting experiences.

“I have a five-year-old with special needs, and I have a one-year-old who is very clingy. Every time we go out to dinner, it’s a little bit hard to just enjoy my and my husband’s presence. I’ve noticed it a lot too with other parents,” she said.

Rather than dwell on the challenges, Andrea turned this into an opportunity to support families.

“The kids are in a safe area, the kids are just playing, they’re entertained. It allows parents to have some freedom. And it gives them hopefully the amount of space to just get some of that relaxation.”

The expansion has transformed Ay! Chabela into more than just a snack shop. With the additional space, Andrea aims to create a true “local hangout” atmosphere.

“My vision of Ay! Chabela has always been…for people to come with their friends and hang out and relax. You kind of want to make people not just walk out with food, but you want to give them an experience,” Andrea said.

The expansion also brought an exciting new menu item: ice cream. Customers can customize their ice cream with toppings, and Andrea is already planning future possibilities.

“Right now we’ve been sourcing our ice cream from Enstrom’s, because we like to also support our local economy, support our local businesses. And of course, who doesn’t love Enstrom’s Ice Cream?” she said.

Andrea also shared plans to diversify the offerings. “We plan to add more ice cream flavors, and we also add ice cream to our strawberries and cream. So maybe root beer floats would be something that we offer in the future. Definitely sorbets, dairy-free options, more of a variety for everybody. (So that) if your friends want to come here, you’re not limited because of allergies or preferences.”

The children’s area will continue to be enhanced.

“We’re going to add more to the kids’ center. We’re adding a rug, for example, and more decor,” Andrea said.

Additionally, the expanded space allows customers to take advantage of offerings like $1 refills on Aguas Frescas. “Now people can really just kind of hang out here and enjoy the experience,” she added.

Mastrud expressed her gratitude to everyone who contributed to the shop’s success.

“I really just want to give thanks to my husband and my friend Pedro Castillo for working so hard and getting us here; they really worked endlessly, honestly, day and night to be able to get us to this day. I want to just thank them and thank the Montrose Business Times too for coming and allowing us to be featured again!”

Gunnison Clamp is a freelance contributor for the Montrose Business Times.