There’s a new café opening in Pueblo and it’s worth the trip. Introducing Blackbox, located at 1437 Court Street, serving coffee, breakfast, lunch, and brunch each week from Tuesday to Saturday. Dreamed up by personal care and home products brand Formulary 55 Founder & CEO Cordelia Smith-Hill and her husband, also Formulary 55’s COO, Anthony Hill, along with Anthony’s son and chef, Ryan Hill, together they aim to bring delicious, smartly sourced food and drink to Pueblo locals and visitors in a modern environment.
The 1,179 square foot space, originally a gas and service station, was completely gutted and remodeled from the ground-up, with the exception of the original south windows and roll-up garage doors, which now serve as key design features. Other features include an original interior mural by Denver artist Daniel Levison, an expansive, fully heated patio, which, weather-permitting, will be open year-round, and an on-site 200 square foot kitchen garden where vegetables and herbs will be grown. The interiors, which Cordelia Smith-Hill describes as “industrial with a graphic edge,” were a collaboration between herself and her husband. Taking a cue from Formulary 55’s signature color palette, Blackbox’s black and white furnishings are accented with gleaming brass fixtures.
Image Provided by Blackbox
When it came to designing the menu, Chef Ryan Hill approached it through the lens of accessibility. With experience working for acclaimed chefs in Seattle, Washington, his breakfast, lunch, and brunch menus will offer modern comfort food, and will rotate seasonally with organic ingredients from Colorado purveyors including Springside Cheese, Boulder Sausage Company, and Bay’s Meat Market. National purveyors include Nueske’s Meats and Wholly Wholesome. The Blackbox menu will consist of a hearty array of breakfast pies, toasts, soups, sandwiches, salads, waffles, and skillets, all made-to-order. Standouts from the menu include the Bacon & Egg Skillet, Chorizo & Onion Breakfast Pie, Avocado & Greens Toast, Jambon-Beurre Sandwich, along with daily made-from-scratch soups. Vegan and gluten free options will also be available.
Masterfully made baguettes, croissants, and a variety of French pastries from The French Kitchen in neighboring Colorado Springs will complement Chef Ryan Hill’s food menu. A selection of housemade scones (both sweet and savory), bundt cakes, muffins, cupcakes, biscotti, and cookies made by Blackbox Chef Assistant Zoë Madeen will also be available daily. The Nutella Cinnamon Roll is destined to be a fan favorite.
Image Provided by Blackbox
We know a café is judged by its coffee—and Blackbox’s menu will be robust. From a traditional French Press with single origin coffee to cortados, lattes, and mochas, Pueblo native and Lead Barista Gianna Carleo will craft each and every drink to the customer’s heart’s content, with the help of Colorado based coffee roasters Salto Coffee Works and Novo Coffee. Milk used by Blackbox is sourced locally and mylks including almond and oat will also be available. Non-coffee drinks include teas, Italian sodas, and more.
Blackbox will open to the public on July 10, 2021. It will be open year-round Tuesday to Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Breakfast will be served Tuesday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Brunch will be served all day on Saturdays. Coffee drinks are priced from $3 and food items from $3. For more information, please visit www.blackboxprovisions.com.