Antlers is off to a great start

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Bringing a variety of options and homemade goodness to Main Street has become an ever-changing business venture for Pam Gualtieri since she opened the first shops on June 11. As part of a project that began over a year ago, Gualtieri has transformed the historic Antlers Hotel building into various small shops, with more planned to come. 
“This is something I have always wanted to do. I have always envisioned having something for everyone to enjoy,” Gualtieri said. “When I first moved here 10 years ago, I fell in love with the Antlers and thought how cool it would be to have it and all the potential it holds.”
Gualtieri first looked at purchasing the Antlers three years ago but to no avail. 
“I just couldn’t get the Antlers out of my mind, so I decided to pursue it again,” Gualtieri said. “And now here I am. I wish I could snap my fingers or wiggle my nose and have all the visions I have for the Antlers completed, but it will take some time.”
While Gualtieri has already implanted several different business ventures into the Antlers, she reported that there is still more to come. 
According to Gualtieri, Ariana’s B&B is already housed in the Antlers and has had several guests, with more booked for the future. She said that she even has guests coming from Italy to stay on Main Street in town. 
“We have a bakery, Hannah’s Heavenly Treats, and that is a trip in itself,” Gualtieri said. “I am amazed by the support the community has already shown, and I am trying to keep up with demand.” 
To date, Gualtieri has offered doughnuts, muffins, turnovers, pastries, apple fritters and little mini doughnuts, with plans to bring more specialty items to the bakery. 
“Once I get the new oven up and going, people will see more pies, cakes, cupcakes, cookies and bread,” Gualtieri said. 
For those looking for a less sugary indulgence, Gualtieri has also opened Uncle Vito’s, an Italian deli. While the full menu hasn’t been rolled out yet, Gualtieri has offered lunch specials featuring items that will be on the menu. 
Not only do patrons have the opportunity to get a fresh bite to eat, they can take the taste of Uncle Vito’s home by purchasing bulk-cut meats and imported cheeses. 
“I am hoping to be able to do a lot of homemade breads in the bakery for Vito’s,” Gualtieri said. “Right now, we are using Montana Harvest Co. for our breads, but in the future, I would like to do my own and have fresh baked bread for sandwiches.”
Coming soon to the Antlers, according to Gualtieri, is Boopa’s, which will be an old-style soda shop with milk shakes and candy. Boopa’s will also feature Chicago Dogs, Polish dogs, Chicago Fire Dogs and other Italian-themed eats. 
She said that she is working with a Chicago vendor for the ingredients that will be used at Boopa’s and that the Antlers will be the first and only place in Wyoming to carry the products. 
Also within Gualtieri’s plan for the building is a mini mall of sorts to be located in the basement. Her plan is to offer home goods, apparel and shoes, as well as sporting goods of all varieties. 
“Originally, the mall was our five-year plan, but we are trying to push to get that done sooner with Shopko’s closure,” Gualtieri said. “I would like to say we will have it open within the next year, but it is looking more like two to three.”
For those of you wondering about the unique names for each of the businesses housed in the Antler’s, Gualtieri said that each name has a meaning and represents a piece of her family. 
Ariana’s for instance is named after her granddaughter, while Hannah is the name of her daughter, who died at age 6. 
“I have always wanted to do something with her name, something fun. We were told at four months that she was not going to make it, and we were blessed with having her for six years,” Gualtieri said. 
She added that she has always wanted a place to say her name and think about her – and what better place to remember a sweet young girl than a bakery full of treats. 
Boopa’s is named after Gualtieri’s grandmother and represents a funny memory in her life. 
“We were trying to call her Boucha, a Polish way for saying grandma and none of us could say it, so it came out Boopa,” Gualtieri recalled. 
The soda shop springs from a desire to remember her grandma and all the good things about her, including the interesting food she introduced Gualtieri to. 
As of now, Hannah’s Heavenly Treats is open from 6 a.m. until the fresh-baked goodies are sold out, and Uncle Vito’s is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to serve the lunch crowd with fresh sandwiches, soups and salads.