The owner and founder of Punch Buggy Shave Ice in Louisville, Neige LaRue, is preparing to open a winter pop-up shop next month in the same location of the shaved ice shop on Main Street.
The pop-up, referred to as Punch Buggy Waffle Pop, will offer warm waffles on a stick with a choice of toppings.
The pop-up is scheduled to have a soft opening from Dec. 10 to Dec. 20 and reopen again from Jan. 7 to March 14. Customers can choose from flavors such as S’mores, Churro, Birthday Cake, Nutty Nutella or they can build their own.
The shop will also be serving hot chocolate with the option of marshmallows, peppermint bark or whipped cream as a topping.
“As restaurants are facing unprecedented hardships and are prohibited from indoor dining, we want to be a destination for families in the Boulder/Denver area,” LaRue said in an email. “Downtown Louisville provides a perfect family outing with socially distanced outdoor ice skating at Winter Skate, a delicious outdoor dinner in one of Louisville’s many heated patios, followed by dessert at Punch Buggy Waffle Pop.”
In the email, LaRue said Punch Buggy Shave Ice is an independent woman-owned dessert restaurant founded in June 2019. While growing up in Hawaii shaved ice had been a favorite summer treat for LaRue.
After moving to Colorado and not finding an authentic shaved ice shop, LaRue decided to open one in Louisville that would close during the winter months. Operating as a grab and go, LaRue said, that seemed to have created a business model that was perfectly suited to navigate through a pandemic.
While there are concerns about opening the pop-up at the height of the pandemic, LaRue said her priority is to protect the health and safety of her team and family. Staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment and have regular temperature checks, and there will be multiple options for customers to order without coming inside the shop.
“While our guests do not have the option of dining indoors, we have four options for people to order their waffle pop safely,” LaRue’s email said. “Guests can order on our website and designate a specific pick-up time. We will have a QR code on the windows of our shop where people can order their waffle pop while waiting outside or in their car. Masked and socially distanced guests can come inside of our shop for grab and go service, and lastly, we have partnered with DoorDash if guests would like their waffle pop delivered to their home.”
The pop-up will be open 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The shop will be closed Monday through Wednesday.
LaRue said she is looking forward to providing the community with a new seasonally appropriate treat.
“I think it’s fair to say that many of us have had a tough year,” LaRue said in the email. “If we can be a destination for families to have a warm treat after an afternoon of outdoor ice skating or sledding, a place that puts a smile on your face and makes you feel like life is sort of back to normal, then we will have achieved our goal.”
