When Mark and Amy Stanczak left the hustle and bustle of the Chicago area for a quiet place in Northwest Colorado, they wanted to become part of a close-knit community while creating a new life centered on family and food.

Little did they know, a global pandemic would lead them, and their two children, to begin an even more thrilling family adventure when they opened a food trailer in Hayden called Sage and Spirit.

The food trailer, which to this day is operated by the entire family, quickly became a town staple — an oasis of connection during the era of social distancing. 

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“It kind of rose organically from the pandemic,” Mark said. “If not for COVID, I don’t think we would have done this.”

Over the last four years, Sage and Spirit has developed into more than just a place to grab a delicious meal. It has become a much-needed gathering space where locals, visitors and those from surrounding communities come together and connect.

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As a result, regular patrons quickly became part of the Stanczak’s extended, community-based food family.

Some customers visited Sage and Spirit so frequently that they had menu items, like the Jason Burger, named after them.

Mark, a professionally trained chef, has worked in kitchens from California to Chicago. He also ran his own personal chef business for over a decade before opening the Hayden eatery. Amy has extensive experience with front-of-house service, which combined with Mark’s skills, led to the development of the family ethos that good food should create opportunity for people to feel at home and come together.

Their daughter Emma, 15, and son Jimmy, 13, have absorbed the family ideology and have contributed greatly to the menu and operation of Sage and Spirit.

All four have also brought their unique takes on food to the diverse menu, which has become a reflection of them as a family.

While popular items, such as their half-pound burgers, have kept customers coming back, it’s Sage and Spirit’s specials that showcase the culinary creativity of the Stanczaks. From Ethiopian dishes to Polish comfort food to Chicagoland classics, the food trailer has become a melting pot of global flavor. 

A commitment to cooking with fresh, high-quality ingredients, paired with an immense amount of pride, has led to them offering dishes that go beyond what can typically be expected from a mobile food location. 

“We’ve done everything from German, to Irish, to Korean,” said Mark. “Some dishes are a risk, but it’s amazing to see how well they’re received. People in Hayden love trying something new.”

Running a food trailer in a smaller community like Hayden is not without its challenges.

The hot summers, combined with the snow and cold of winter, can present difficulties at times when propane prices soar, foot traffic dwindles and equipment doesn’t operate as it should.  

One of the most significant challenges came this past winter when Yampa Valley Brewing Company, which was located directly next door to Sage and Spirit, announced it was closing.

“It was a shock,” Amy said. “We had no idea what was going to happen. But the outpouring of support from the community was incredible. People would stop us in the grocery store and ask, ‘You’re not closing too, are you?'”

Despite pleas from the community, Mark and Amy made the difficult decision to close for three months as they awaited news of what would happen with the brewery space next door. 

The shutdown, however, came with a silver lining.

For the first time in years, Mark, Amy, Emma and Jimmy had the opportunity to spend time together as a family. After Sage and Spirit was shuttered, they rediscovered and rebuilt the family bonds that held them together. 

For Mark and Amy, it was a chance to complete needed home improvement projects and watch their children at school events. For Jimmy and Emma, it was a chance to step away from the routine of food service and enjoy a somewhat more normal pace in their teenage lives. 

However, it wasn’t long before they were able to reconnect their “community family” in front of Sage and Spirit again. 

Anna and Derek Martin, who own Alpenglow Wine Bar, decided to reopen the brewery as The Hayden Taphouse.

For the Stanczaks, there was an instant sense of excitement. Once again, they had the opportunity for a fresh start. 

That excitement also led every member of the family to bring something new to the menu. 

Old favorites joined with new additions including an expanded lineup of wings with flavors like black salt and vinegar, peri-peri and gochujang. They added a Nashville-hot style chicken sandwich, poached pear and walnut salad and a crowd-favorite elote dip. 

And yes, the Jason Burger is still on the menu.

They’ve also made adjustments to streamline their operation, ensuring that they can keep up with demand without sacrificing quality. 

“We learned a lot over the past few years,” Mark said. “What works, what doesn’t and how to improve efficiency without losing that personal touch.”

However, the real excitement came when they were able to welcome the customers who have been with them since the beginning.

“We’re rebuilding,” Jimmy said. “It’s like gluing together a clay pot you dropped. You lost the structure, but now you’re figuring out how to build it again.”

For Mark, Amy, and their family, Sage and Spirit was never really about food — it was about people and resilience.

And as they reopened their windows on March 7, it was clear that their food-based family had missed them.

“It was one of the busiest nights I could remember,” Jimmy said.

Looking ahead, Mark, Amy, and their children hold high hopes for their next chapter. Those hopes, however, extend beyond their business and throughout the community of Hayden.

“Having a thriving local food scene is important,” Amy said. “It’s what makes a place feel like home. We’re proud to be a part of that.”

Jimmy acknowledges that the food truck has played a major role in his upbringing, though he also explained that it is not what he wants to do with his life once he grows up.

“I’ll always remember the people,” he said. “The regulars, the little traditions we built. The family we created here.”

As the grills, fryers and fans at Sage and Spirit fire up once again, and as the community lines up to welcome back one of Hayden’s loved culinary locations, it’s easy to see that this food truck is serving up more than just meals — it’s serving up community, one plate at a time.

For more information, visit SageandSpiritHayden.com.