Everyone loves pizza and ice cream, but there’s a deeper reason why Walsenburg, Colorado cherishes Gub Gub’s Pizza and Ice Cream. To this small, rural town, Gub Gub’s symbolizes a future of economic prosperity and much-needed community spirit. Founded by current Greenhouse Alum Helena Cappon, the lead-up to this local business shows exactly what happens when the Greenhouse community gets behind something.
In the early stages, Greenhouse mentor Taylor Kirkpatrick met Helena through our Young Leaders Program Entrepreneurship Component. Upon getting to know each other and Helena’s idea, he worked with her to refine a business pitch for an ice cream and pizzeria with purpose. As Gub Gub’s began to take shape, it gained more steam at a Greenhouse Idea Enhancement Session with Eric Kean, CEO of MainStage Brewing. Inspired by Helena and her passion for what a small business can do, he provided her with some industry best practices and even a recipe for a pizza sauce. With funding from Greenhouse, Helena took a major step, transforming an old gas station into a New York-inspired pizzeria.
Since opening its doors on November 22, 2022, Gub Gub’s has quickly become a beloved local hotspot and essential pitstop for travelers passing through Walsenburg. The business has generated a profit almost since its inception. Much of the profit has been reinvested back into the business to support its growth, and the growth of its community work.
Beyond serving as a charming roadside attraction, Gub Gub’s has become a vital part of the community by providing jobs, summer internships, and even reading programs for children. Their “Get Gub’s” reading program rewards students with a free cheese pizza for every punch card they fill by reading books. This initiative not only promotes literacy but also strengthens the bond between the business and the local youth.
Gub Gub’s dedication to community involvement extends further with annual donations to local organizations such as La Veta School Sports, Walsenburg High School Sports, Misfits Wrestling, Spanish Peaks Library District, 4H Club, and Walsenburg Downtown Revitalization. As the sole pizzeria and ice cream shop within a 50-mile radius, Gub Gub’s holds a unique and valued position. In a time when rural America is witnessing an exodus of young adults leaving for opportunities elsewhere, Gub Gub’s stands as a beacon of hope, fostering a sense of community and offering a welcoming hangout that encourages the next generation to stay and thrive in their hometown.
For Greenhouse, Gub Gub’s is a small business that represents more than just products and services—it embodies positivity, community, and opportunity. Through initiatives like youth programs, internships, and fostering a gathering place for locals, Gub Gub’s is realizing their vision of a pizza shop grounded in the values of education, growth, and community spirit. Gub Gub’s is a shining example of how the Greenhouse community is helping to support rural towns in the American West and across the country.