When Nate Gueck opened Buddy’s Smoke and Vape in Montrose in February 2016, he was 24 years old and running his first business.
The first year was more difficult than he expected.
“I had to move back in with my mom,” Gueck said. “I had to sell my dad’s Land Rover that he left me, sell my motorcycles, even my dream truck.”
Now, nearly 10 years later, Gueck opened another shop earlier this year, Value Vape in Delta, a move he said has been several years in the making.
“I always wanted to own and run businesses,” Gueck said.
As a kid, he spent hours playing business simulation games like RollerCoaster Tycoon, where players balance budgets and build profitable attractions. Later, working jobs ranging from the mines to Domino’s Pizza reinforced his desire to own a business rather than work for one.
When Buddy’s, which sits downtown at 138 N. Townsend Ave, first opened, it looked much different than it does today.
Originally, the business was called Buddy Guy’s Smoke Supplies, a playful nod to South Park’s Canadian characters as well as a few other inside jokes, Gueck said. As the business evolved beyond its original concept, the name was eventually shortened to Buddy’s Smoke and Vape. It was also located next door to its current location in a smaller space.
“I started out mostly as a glass shop,” Gueck said.
He believed Montrose lacked a store with a broad selection of glass products, and that was the niche he wanted to fill. At the same time, vaping products were beginning to emerge, though they were still a relatively small part of the market.
As demand shifted, so did his inventory.
Gueck said his brother loaned him money that allowed him to expand his vape selection, helping transform the business into one built around repeat customers instead of occasional purchases.
“That really started helping with stuff because that’s a more constant-cycle business,” he said.
Today, Buddy’s business is split roughly evenly between smoking products and vaping products.
The Delta store takes a different approach.
Operating under the name Value Vape, the second location focuses almost exclusively on vaping products. Gueck said the streamlined concept simplifies inventory management while allowing him to test a business model that could eventually be expanded into additional communities.
“It’s honestly an experiment,” he said. “A copy-and-paste business. Something that’s really scalable.”
Although Gunnison had long been on his list for expansion, Delta ultimately was the better fit.
“Delta or Gunnison was kind of the natural way to go,” Gueck said. “With the bridge closure and everything, Gunnison became a lot harder to get to.”
He also said Buddy’s already drew customers from Delta, Cedaredge, Hotchkiss, Norwood, Naturita and Gunnison, many of whom had told him they wished there were a closer location.
While product selection has helped Buddy’s build a following, Gueck believes customer service has been equally important.
“In an industry like this, you’re mostly just reselling products,” he said. “That’s where customer service really comes in.”
He said he emphasizes hiring knowledgeable employees and creating a workplace where people want to stay. Since opening 11 years ago, only three employees have left the company, and several current staff members have worked there for years.
“I really pride myself on not having a lot of employee turnover,” Gueck said.
That experience benefits customers, he said, because employees are familiar not only with the newest products but also with older devices that customers still use.
The vape industry itself has also changed dramatically since Buddy’s opened.
Gueck said early customers primarily used large box-style vaporizers before the market shifted toward smaller pod systems and eventually disposable devices. While disposables have become increasingly popular, he said he still recommends refillable systems when possible because they save customers money over time and generate less waste.
Buddy’s was growing and generating a good amount of revenue in 2019 when it moved into its current location.
Just months later, COVID-19 shut businesses across Colorado.
For Gueck, the timing was especially difficult because he had invested heavily in inventory ahead of April 2020, anticipating one of the biggest sales months of the year.
“It broke the bank,” he said.
Restrictions forced Buddy’s to operate outside for part of the month, but Gueck said business rebounded quickly once restrictions eased.
“We came out of COVID and were shot out of a gun,” he said. “We never really looked back.”
Looking ahead, Gueck said he hopes to continue expanding. Gunnison remains on his list, though there are no immediate plans for a third location. For now, his focus is on refining the Value Vape concept and continuing to grow both stores.
“I look back at things and think they’ve gone really well,” Gueck said. “I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of good friends and mentors help me over the years.”
Justin Tubbs is the Montrose Business Times editor. He can be reached by email at justin@montrosebusinesstimes.com or by phone at 970-765-0915 or mobile at 254-246-2260.
