As soon as I crossed the threshold of The Glassblowers of Manitou, I was in complete awe. Everywhere I looked there was glass. It was as close as an adult can come to being a kid in a candy store. Hanging from the ceiling, sitting on shelves or in glass cases, there was magnificient glass works throughout the store.
Joe and Paula Pasteurs are the owners of The Glassblowers of Manitou. #4 Canon Ave. Manitou Springs, Colorado 80829 (719)685-1555. They are the consummate Manitou Springs business owners. They own and live above the building where they are located. They have been in business for over 30 years. First in Old Colorado City down the road, then they added the location in Manitou Springs.
The Glassblowers of Manitou is the most unique store in the area. All handmade, glass art,they feature their work as well as the work of several Colorado or Western Artists. You can find beautiful paperweights with Mt. Saint Helen’s ash throughout. They also carry the beautiful Diachroic Jewelry. Unbelievably breathtaking pieces. A favorite of most of the female customers.
The specialty pieces that all of the previous customers will tell you Paula and Joe are most remembered for are the Hummingbirds and Flowers. The Hummingbirds are of every possible size and color. You feel as those you have wandered into a sort of magical aviary. It is a fine representation of the natural wonder of nature in this area.
The flowers are just as beautiful. Columbines that look as though they were plucked fresh from the stem. At Christmas you can buy handblown ornaments that are second to none. If you love Egyptian Perfume Bottles, the selection Joe and Paula carry is unbelievable.
Starting out very small, Paula says “Joe was the Glassblower back then”. “He learned the trade and began to build the businesses we have today.” As their sons grew, they taught them all of their vast knowledge of the business and gave them the tools to take over the business or start their own.
Son, Joe Jr, and his family operate and manage a shop in the same building with Joe and Paula, as well as help with Glassblowers of Manitou. Both Joe and Beth are also professional Glass Blowers. The Twin Bears Embroidery Shop is another venture that was started by Joe and Paula. Joe Jr. and Beth have built that business to be successful in every way. They do custom embroidery and Laser(silk)screen work with the same quality in mind as Joe and Paula.
Joe and Paula’s other son owns Glass Blowers of Estes Park, 126 E. Elkhorn Ave. Estes Park, CO 80517
(970) 586-5963. They also have a huge selection of hand blown glass collectibles. Specializing in flowers & hummingbirds just as the family in Manitou. He decided to follow in the same path as his father and open a shop in a part of Colorado that he loved. He is also very successful there.
Paula is one of the friendliest people I have ever met. The staff at The Glassblowers of Manitou make you feel like family the second you walk in the door. When I went to visit, Paula was in the store. As soon as I went in she said, “Good Morning, How are you today”. By the time I had walked around for a few minutes she had walked over. She was geniunely interested in who I was. I immediately felt comfortable.
Paula and Joe keep The Glassblowers of Manitou open year round. Some of the shops in the area close down after the summer and early fall rush, then open again in the spring. Paula told me she does great business all year long. She knows people visit this area at different times.
The returning customers expect to come in a see whats new, whenever they come to town. She told me they also have quite a customer base that lives in the area. They come in and bring out of town family when they visit. Another huge attraction at the Glassblowers of Manitou is the glassblowing exhibition each weekday from 10-2. You can stand and watch how they have done it for a long time.
Just in the time it took for our visit, two different people came in to shop that knew Paula on a first name basis. The Glassblowers of Manitou in Manitou Springs, Colorado is a glass lover’s paradise. Quality, great prices and down home friendly service are the keys to the success for Paula and Joe.
Another treasure of this business is Debbie, the manager. While we talked, Debbie was taking care of customers. She continues the theme of the store effortlessly with her hometown hospitality and friendly demeanor. She is definitely a valuable part of Glassblowers.
I asked Paula why they took their website down. She told me she is a bit old fashioned and has not resigned herself to do business like that. She said, “We will ship anything anywhere, but we just like for people to come in and look around here to shop. The internet is very impersonal. I think we are going to keep it like it is.
People can come in and see the hummingbirds hanging or the columbines. Each one is different a little bit, so the internet can’t show the minute things like that. People stand for several minutes looking at each one trying to decide which one suits them the best or whomever they are buying it for will love that particular one. You can’t get that on the internet.
One of the many American Dream come true stories still alive and well in America. Everyone that passes through the Colorado Springs, Colorado area, should stop by and say hi to Paula and Joe, as well as Beth and Joe Jr. next door at Twin Bears Embroidery. This is truly a Colorado Family Tradition at work.
