BIZBEAT: Aspen Park residents open traveling country store By Deborah Swearingen

When Lauren Davis and Shane Skinner began searching for hobbies to share, they landed on something unique: pickles.

Lauren Davis and Shane Skinner stand on the steps of the Pickle Patch.

Some four years ago, they began pickling in their Englewood apartment, and their PickleBear pickles were such a hit that they quickly turned into a business. Then Davis and Skinner moved to Aspen Park and decided they wanted to expand.

“We thought it would be really cool to make a mobile country store to take to events,” Davis said. “And thus, The Pickle Patch was born.”

The Pickle Patch launched in early June. With homey decorations, retro candy and a country fair feel, the quaint traveling shop plays off nostalgia. Skinner and Davis sell a variety of other items, including beef jerky, dip mixes and handmade soaps. They work with other local vendors such as Conifer’s Black Diamond Salsa, and of course, they sell their own PickleBear pickles.

“Essentially, the whole idea behind it was just to promote local products,” Skinner said.

The Pickle Patch just made an appearance at Conifer’s Elevation Celebration, and Davis and Skinner plan to visit various farmers markets in August, Festival Italiano in Lakewood in September and Cider Days in Lakewood in October.

Right now, as they work to get the website off the ground, they said the best way to follow along is to like “The Pickle Patch” on Facebook. To peruse their pickle products, visit www.picklebear.com.