By Jon Huang
When Spring Gould and Bridget Edgell opened Mountain View Café and Catering in Black Forest, behind the building was a small, “cute” walking path. They joked that when things were slow, they would go relax and take a walk outside on the trail.
“We’re still trying to go on our little walk,” Gould said.
Edgell grew up in Skowhegan, Maine, a town of fewer than 10,000 people, with a handful of stoplights. Gould lived in a neighboring town but because of the area’s remoteness, she attended the same school. They became friends in junior high; as teenagers they both worked in local restaurants.
Gould’s first job was at a hand-breaded seafood shop. She started working there because she loved the food. She enjoyed the flexibility of the job and the variety of the day. For Edgell, she met some inspirational mentors in the trade.
“It helped me see what could be,” Edgell said.
Edgell was the first to fly the coup, moving to Colorado Springs after high school to join her cousin, whose husband was stationed in Iraq. The two stayed together on Ft. Carson so that she could help her cousin with her kids. Eventually, she moved into her own place and had a realization.
“Hey I would like some friends to come stay with me,” she recalled.
“So she called us (other friends) and we road tripped out,” Gould said.
When they first moved to Colorado, the two worked corporate chain restaurants jobs, learning the ropes in the fast paced, high stress environment, climbing their way up to managerial positions.
In 2021, tragedy struck when Edgell’s son Jackson died. It became a catalyst to self-reflect on what was truly important to them. They wanted to have more decision-making capacity in their jobs, more time with family, and wanted to pursue their dream of opening their own restaurant.
“We grew up in Maine with those really small hometown restaurants that we’ve always loved and just to be able to create one in Black Forest has been a dream for us,” Gould said.
In 2022, they took the chance.
Living in Black Forest, they often heard from locals about the need for a breakfast place. When they worked as employees, on their days off seeking an indulgence, the two would often get breakfast.
As they built the menu for Mountain View, they drew from their own favorites and family recipes. For Gould it was her mother’s dill dip and veggies and the breakfast potatoes she made for her dad every day. For Edgell, it was her family’s taco salad recipe and her children’s favorite foods.
“All of the children’s meals are named after our children,” Edgell said. “Every time we see that … it’s a reminder.”
From the beginning, the two have had immense support from the local community and so it wasn’t long before customers were begging for more. About a year ago, they started hosting monthly dinners.
“We wouldn’t be anywhere without this community so we always listen to the guest and what they want,” Gould said. “It’s a battle because we want quality of life and time with families, but we wouldn’t be here without their support so we do them (the dinners) every once in a while. We have a lot of fun with them.”
In September, dinner will feature lobster flown in from their home state. Reservations can be made by phone or online.
Mountain View also hosts events and has a catering branch. Their current building can seat 100. They have a menu posted online, but customers can also call to request other items as well. The demand has grown to the point that 10 months ago, they moved to their current location at 11424 Black Forest Road. During the week they serve an estimated 200 customers. On the weekends, up to 400.
Despite the busy schedule, the two have found joy in working with one another, and building on their friendship that started over 20 years ago. While they might still intend to walk that trail behind their first location, the path they have already chosen to travel has made all the difference.
https://www.mountainvwcafe.com
