Charlie's Market changing hands

by Debi Sporleder
LA VETA — As of this week, past print time, Charlie’s Market will have sold to new owners. After 13 years of owning the business (and the business has been in the famly since 1937), Don and Mitzi Keairns have decided to pass the reins to Deborah and David Messier of Colorado Springs. When asked what they are going to do, Mitzi said, “I can tell you what we aren’t going to do — and that is work this summer. We are going to take a bonafide family vacation.”
The Messiers, on the other hand, are excited to take over operations. They have business backgrounds in convenience store and restaurant-type management and have owned a mortgage company for the last several years. With their background, they are a shoo-in for the lifestyle in quaint La Veta.
And that is exactly what brought the Messiers to La Veta — quaintness. While passing through La Veta on a camping trip some five years ago or so, their questions were, “who lives here” and “how do they make a living?”
So, after searching for several years for a business to buy, they saw Charlie’s Market listed on the internet and it was a match made in heaven. The earlier visit to La Veta had made such an impression on them, they were thrilled to be able to find a means to live in the town that captured their hearts.
Often with new owners, there is apprehension about change. However, what attracted the Messiers to Charlie’s Market is exactly what they want to keep, and everything will stay as is for right now- with the exception being that weekly sales, like the larger grocery stores, will be offered.
Thank you Don and Mitzi for your years of service to Huerfano County, and we wish the Messiers the best in their new venture.