Frisco art shop changes ownership, longtime leader announces exit and more business news in Summit County

As the seasons change, Summit County’s business scene continues to morph.

A beloved art spot in Frisco is expecting to see some changes, a Summit County nonprofit is teaming up with a hotel for a partnership that will benefit the Blue River Watershed, and a property management company is receiving national recognition for its work in the lodging industry.

Here’s the latest in the business landscape in Summit.

A former business owner gets back into ownership with the purchase of Stay Sunny Frisco

Stay Sunny Frisco is in the process of transitioning owners after its recent purchase. 

The spot features art from its former owner, Ashlie Weisel, alongside other pieces and knick-knacks from small creators. 

Weisel opened Stay Sunny Frisco, first known as Sunny Side Up Studio, in 2018 and recently posted on Facebook she was looking to sell because she was moving abroad. She said she wanted to sell to someone who would keep the store similar to how it has always been, featuring her art and others, but she also hopes the new owner would add their own twist to it.

Enter Summit County resident Ruth Campbell, who sold her formal wear, gift and souvenir business on Frisco Main Street a few years ago after six years of ownership. When she saw Weisel’s post, she decided to reach out and put her name in the hat, despite thinking her chance of securing the business was a long shot. 

Weisel responded with support, and Campbell soon began thinking about what her new space will look like in the future. 

Just as Weisel’s post suggested, Campbell plans to keep Stay Sunny largely the same. She said just as Stay Sunny went through transformations in terms of inventory under Weisel’s ownership, it will under hers as well. 

“I’ve been coming up with a few new ideas that are consistent with what she’s done in the past, maybe bringing back some of (Weisel’s) old designs because her art has morphed over the years and people still come in and talk about her early stuff,” Campbell said. 

Stay Sunny is located at 301 Main St. in Frisco and is open everyday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Jeanne Bistranin to retire from the Summit Foundation

Summit Foundation executive director Jeanne Bistranin will be retiring effective Jan. 31, 2025. 

Bistranin has served in the role for nearly 10 years and has helped double the nonprofit’s total annual financial support it provides to the community, taking it from $2.1 million in 2015 to over $4 million in 2024, according to the Summit Foundation. 

When Bistranin started with the nonprofit in 2015, the cumulative support for the community was $23 million from the time it was founded in 1984. This year, the cumulative support was brought up to $53 million. She led many special initiatives, including the Bright Futures Fund, Mountain Scholars, Peak Health Alliance, Project Thrive, Theatre Vivo, Building Hope and more. 

“It has been my honor to be the executive director of the Summit Foundation and serve the community for almost 10 years,” said Bistranin in a statement. “This year, looking back during our 40 year anniversary, it was humbling to realize the impact that so many people have had on the foundation and our community.” 

The PAD and Blue River Watershed Group form a partnership

A partnership between The PAD in Silverthorne and the Blue River Watershed Group through the Kind Traveler program has now raised around $10,200 for the nonprofit since the partnership began in November 2022.

The Kind Traveler program is a community impact initiative that allows travelers to make a positive difference with their stays. Its broader mission is to promote responsible tourism, empowering both travelers and hotels to support local and global communities.

When guests book at participating lodging spots, a portion of their stay is donated to local charities chosen by the hotel. In this case, The PAD chose the Blue River Watershed Group, a nonprofit who works to support and protect the Blue River Watershed. 

All donations are tracked and their impacts are demonstrated on digital dashboards made by Kind Traveler.

“This partnership exemplifies our dedication to responsible tourism and community impact, and makes sense as we are positioned with the luxury of having the beautiful Blue River right in our backyard,” Vanessa Lodgson with the Blue River Watershed Group said. “Together, we’re committed to enhancing our local environment by supporting initiatives like the creation of wetlands that protect wildlife and contribute to wildfire resilience.”

Breckenridge property management company recognized as one of the best in the nation

Property management company Moving Mountains, which has an office on North Main Street in Breckenridge, has made it into the top 1% of vacation rental managers across the United States.

The company secured the recognition at the 2024 Summer Market Leader Awards. Compartment is a marketplace designed to transform how vacation rental owners find and select a vacation rental management company. Moving Mountains was selected out of 5,205 management companies.

The company, founded in Steamboat Springs in 1997, manages 60 properties in Summit County and over 220 rental homes across Colorado. It set up shop in Breckenridge in 2021.