BEN VOYAGE 3 | CHALLAH 8 | LUCKY’S FRIEND 10 | GROW & PROSPER 20
Vol. 3 No. 3
MARCH 1, 2024
• DIG DEEPER •
Sharing challah
Pueblo staple, kosher classic: Seppy’s Challah Breads makes move from digital storefront to brick-and-mortar
By Ben Cason
hallah (pronounced hall-uh) typically is a braided bread that can be inlaid with many delicious options. The woven bread refers to the loaves of Shabbat, and has been called Challah since 1488. Baker Elishevah Sepulveda is ready to bring this traditional Kosher bread back to Pueblo, opening her new bakery. Seppy’s new store will be at 131 Broadway Ave. Sepulveda is looking to open the shop by the beginning of April. Sepulveda has been making Challah bread herself for many years and features five types of Challah bread: deluxe, cinnamon raisin, cinnamon cherry, chocolate-chocolate chip and pueblo green chile. Sepulveda is a Sephardic Jew, associated with the Iberian Peninsula in Europe. She joined the traditional Orthodox Jewish faith, worshiping the religion’s one God, Hashem. “If you can do something that makes the world a better place, then you just go do it,” Sepulveda said. “It doesn’t matter how big or small your contribution is, what matters is that you’re taking action and making a positive impact.” She began creating the bread when her son asked for it for a school project. Sepulveda made two loaves and sent them with her son, they were the talk of the school. Students came to her house asking if she had any more. She currently sells her breads over Facebook and her website seppyskosher.com. After some time she was connected with King Soopers, becoming the official provider of Challah bread to their Colorado stores. It began with bringing her bread to a Regional Office meeting. The bread impressed all who tried it, according to Sepulveda. Jean Tapia, former Bakery Buyer for Kroger and King Soopers, said, “she had Challah all over the world, big and small bakeries, major producing companies, and homemade even in Israel—and never have I had Challah this good.” Sepulveda produced for Rocky Mountain King Soopers from 2002 to 2005. In 2005, Sepulveda’s production was caught in a building foreclosure and she had all her stock of bread and equipment seized. Sepulveda said, “I mean, we had to start all over again from scratch, but sometimes that’s what it takes to build something truly remarkable.” Sepulveda said that, “we are planning so that I don’t run into that problem again.” She now has the building, along with her equipment and an employee. She has a few more expenses ahead of her before opening the store, and has reached out to the community to help fund the start of the shop. “There’s a lot of energy already in the community,” she said. “People are realCHALLAH continued on page 8
Seppy’s Challah Breads to open its doors this spring. Photos courtesy of Elisheva Sepulveda.
Photos courtesy of Seppy’s
C
| COMMUNITY | ACCOUNTABILITY | CURIOSITY | CONNECTION |