Van Cafe Team

Hometown: Blairstown, NJ
How long in CO: I moved to Colorado in 1996. I was on a nation wide RV roadtrip (before they called it Van Life). I joke that I ran out of money here and was forced to get a job. It isn’t totally true...I had $200 when I arrived in Ft Collins.
With Van Cafe for: My brother and I started Rocky Mountain Westy in 2004. I started self employment in 2000 when I was hustling used parts on eBay. We purchased Van Cafe in 2018 and moved operations to CO. Here is a fun podcast that talks more about the history of it all and some fun stories.
When not working: Definitely love traveling and working on project cars and tinkering on this and that.

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3 Favorites:
Camping spot: Twin Rivers campground- Check out High Country Bus Festival- it is amazing
Favorite vehicle you own/have owned: Wow...there has been so many. My 74 Thing gets summer miles, my 79 Scirocco has a special place in the fleet. I am currently in love with my 78 Subaru powered Westy
Van Cafe Product: I think our stainless exhaust systems is really where our quality and innovation shine.

Hometown: Blairstown, NJ
How long in CO:
In 1995 I left my beloved hometown of Blairstown, New Jersey for the beautiful state of Colorado. I spent the better part of the next 5 years bouncing around the country and the Caribbean, until settling into a job as a technician at a Mercedes Benz dealership in Fairfield NJ. IN 2004 I quit my job at Mercedes, moved back to Colorado and started Rocky Mountain Westy with my brother, and the rest is history in the making.
With Van Cafe for: Greg co-founded Rocky Mountain Westy in 2004, which has become Van Cafe.
When not working:
I enjoy skiing in the winter and camping in the summer.

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3 Favorites:
Camping spot: My favorite place to camp is where I’m camping.
Favorite vehicle you own/have owned: The car the got away was my 1991 Audi Coupe Quatrro with a 3b 20V Turbo conversion.
Van Cafe Product: I would have to say the Subaru Vanagon Conversion Kit. I have so many memories of working on that in the garage.

Hometown: I grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
How long in CO:
I moved to Colorado in 1998 after visiting some friends that had moved to Fort Collins. I immediately fell in love with the city and the community.
With Van Cafe for: I started working with Van Cafe in early 2021.
When not working:
When I’m not working you can find me fishing, snowmobiling, camping, or snowboarding.

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3 Favorites:
Camping spot: Bear Lake
Favorite vehicle you own/have owned: BMW R1200R
Van Cafe Product: I love all our Rocky Mountain Westy manufactured products. I’m blown away by the quality of products our fab team produces every day.

Hometown: No direction home
How long in CO:
I dreamt of living in Colorado when I was seven but didn't get here until 2004.
With Van Cafe for: Since October, 2017.
When not working:
My favorite camping spot.

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3 Favorites:
Camping spot: I'm not at liberty to divulge that information.
Favorite vehicle you own/have owned: I'm currently on my 93rd vehicle. There've been a fair few I've loved and lost.
Van Cafe Product: The RMW Subaru conversion kit is epic and is truly a night and day upgrade.

Hometown: Elkhart, Indiana.
How long in CO: I have been in Colorado for 22 years.
With Van Cafe for: Since March of 2023.
When not working:
When I am not at work I am usually flying drones, working on cars, off-roading, camping or hanging with friends.

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3 Favorites:
Camping spot: Some of my friends and I will get together and do a yearly trip to a spot down in Buena Vista that's pretty amazing, or our yearly trip to Lake McConaughey.
Favorite vehicle you own/have owned: A 1992 Volvo 240 Dl that I turbocharged using parts from a junkyard.
Van Cafe Product: Our Roof Top Deck system is pretty rad.

Hometown: Sterling, CO
How long in CO: My whole life.
With Van Cafe for: Started at Van Cafe in the middle of 2019.
When not working: Breweries

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3 Favorites:
Camping Spot: Chambers Lake
Favorite vehicle you own/have owned: Skoolie
Van Cafe Product: Switchback Rack System

Hometown: I have lived in Santa Cruz, CA, for 41 years. Recently we bought a fixer-upper out in the country, and eventually, we will move there.
How long in CO:
I have lived in California my entire life, and in fact, I have lived within 30 miles of my birthplace the whole time.
With Van Cafe for: I have worked at Van Cafe for 13.5 years. Before that, I sold parts to Van Cafe from an exporter of Vanagon parts. I have 40 plus years of experience selling Volkswagen parts. If you had told me in 1984 that I would still be selling Vanagon parts, I would have that you were a little bit cuckoo!
When not working:
Either racing sailboats, riding my mountain bike, surfing, or working on our fixer-upper.

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3 Favorites:
Camping spot: Kirk Creek, Big Sur, CA. It is an excellent spot right on the Pacific Ocean.
Favorite vehicle you own/have owned: My 1989 Wolfsburg Weekender, better known as "Blanca." Besides numerous camping and surf trips, She's been to well over 100 bicycle races. Mostly cyclocross. (close 2nd)
Van Cafe Product: I was going to say our bumpers, but I'm going to have to go with our ladder. I think it looks sharp, and I get very excited when I see another van driving down the road with it!

Hometown: Sand Springs, OK.
How long in CO: I moved to Colorado two years ago. With Van Cafe for: Since April of 2023
When not working:
When not at work I enjoy hiking, cooking, reading, brewery hopping, and watching indy car!

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3 Favorites:
Camping spot: Banff National Park.
Favorite vehicle you own/have owned: 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan.
Van Cafe Product: Not sure yet!

Hometown: I originally hail from the mistake on the lake, aka Cleveland.
How long in CO:
I've lived in Colorado about 17 years now. I came to Colorado by way of New York and Texas.
With Van Cafe for: I've been with Van Cafe for four amazing crazy whirlwind months. While still a little green around the ears, I find myself wanting to get a van!
When not working:
When I'm not at work, you'll find me exploring the mountains with my hubby and our dogs. Well, you might not actually see me, but I'm there.

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3 Favorites:
Camping spot: A super secret(-ish) location in the Medicine Bow Forest.
Favorite vehicle you own/have owned: My favorite vehicle was my 2012 Subaru Impreza Sport. For a compact little car, it was a regular mountain beast!
Van Cafe Product: Being fairly new to Van Cafe, I'm still learning our product range. I really love the idea of our ladder. Now all I need is to get the van that goes with it!

Hometown: I was born here in Fort Collins, but spent most of my childhood in Littleton CO.
How long in CO:
All my life (38yrs)
With Van Cafe for: 11 years!
When not working:
More than likely working on my Jeep Cherokee or Honda CRX track car.

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3 Favorites:
Camping spot: We like to take our Jeep up Pole Hill road to a secret spot that overlooks the valley of Estes Park.
Favorite vehicle you own/have owned: My 91 Honda CRX. It was my first vehicle, and I've since transitioned it into a dedicated track car.
Van Cafe Product: I've been fortunate enough to have helped design and produce many of Van Cafe's manufactured products so it's hard to pick just one. However, I would have to pick our stainless exhaust system for the 4Cyl Subaru conversion as it was what I had helped first develop for the company. To this day, I would consider it to be the best in the market.

Hometown: Beresford, SD
How long in CO: I have been in CO 37 years, since 1986!
With Van Cafe for: I started in november of 2022
When not working: Riding the ATV, Hunting, Fishing. Enjoying time with my daughter and grandson.

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3 Favorites:
Camping Spot: Steamboat Lake
Favorite vehicle you own/have owned: Mitsubishi Eclipse
Van Cafe Product: Either our bumpers or roof decks.

Hometown: Fort Collins
How long in CO:
My whole life - 37 years.
With Van Cafe for: 14 years
When not working:
The mountains

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3 Favorites:
Camping spot: I have to pick?!
Favorite vehicle you own/have owned: '88 Toyota Pickup
Van Cafe Product: All of them! (Yep, we are letting him get away with that, too.)

Hometown: Porter Corners, New York
How long in CO: Since 2015
With Van Cafe for: Since 2019
When not working:
Hanging with my family and my dogs.

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3 Favorites:
Camping spot: Boquet River in the Adirondacks
Favorite vehicle you own/have owned: 1988 Isuzu Trooper II
Van Cafe Product: Anything tig welded

Hometown: Eaton, Colorado
How long in CO: 50 years
With Van Cafe for: Since 2018
When not working:
On golf courses

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3 Favorites:
Camping spot: Lake McConaughy, NB
Favorite vehicle you own/have owned: 68 Chevy CST
Van Cafe Product: Twin Peaks Rear Bumper

Hometown: Ohiowa, NE.
How long in CO:I have been in Colorado for 4 years.
With Van Cafe for: Since December 2022
When not working:
In my free time I like playing guitar and getting out with my RC crawler.

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3 Favorites:
Camping spot: Snowy Range!
Favorite vehicle you own/have owned: 1964 Ford F-350
Van Cafe Product: I really like our Twin Peaks Front & Rear bumpers.

Hometown: Sturgis, SD
How long in CO:
Since 1964 with small stints in CA, TX, AL & AZ
With Van Cafe for: 9 months
I love coming to work every day. Great people and company, this will be the last job I have!
When not working:
Taking care of grandkids, planning and catering weddings (her flower arrangements are GORGEOUS), spending time at the cabin.

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3 Favorites:
Camping spot: the cabin (does this count?)
Favorite vehicle you own/have owned: 1950 Chevy Pickup
Van Cafe Product: all of them (we are letting that answer slide as she picks and packs each order).