By Melissa Gill / Photo by Louiie Victa
Buffy’s Book Boutique is the latest literary destination on the southwest side of Las Vegas, where bibliophiles, gamers and Lego builders can playfully indulge without censorious eyes.
Arkansas-born Shawn Curtis and D.C.-native Allison Scheler joined forces to conceive a whimsical social setting combining their favorite pastimes, reading books and assembling Lego sets. Their fluffy white dog, Buffy, who visitors may spot ambling around the stacks, inspired the bookstore’s name. As the wagging-tail-wielding bookshop “manager,” Buffy eagerly greets new and returning customers.
“We want to be a place that fosters growth and creativity for the community,” says Curtis. “I tell everybody we opened a bookstore because I needed somewhere to put my Legos, but I’ve always loved books. There’s something special about actual books—the scent and feel of them in your hands.”
Curtis runs the bookshop and owns Curtis Law Firm. Scheler leads the bookstore’s marketing efforts and works as a business manager at Red Rock Harley. They first met years ago while working at the same legal office and had known each other for a decade before relocating to Las Vegas. Juggling multiple jobs can be tricky, but having a solid team operating the bookstore helps maintain efficiency.
“It’s difficult to find a balance in running the shop and our personal lives since we still work other jobs,” says Scheler. “Building a strong team to handle the day-to-day responsibilities has helped, and we’re grateful to the people who enjoy working here. We have a sense of camaraderie.”
Buffy’s Book Boutique offers the lowest prices possible to set them apart from online competitors. With so many games, novels and Lego kits, visitors are bound to discover something that awakens their inner child. Beyond a uniquely curated selection, colorful murals featuring Buffy throughout the store add a touch of whimsy and warmth. The owners intend to expand the space significantly by the end of the year.
“We love the support we’ve received from the community and other local bookstore owners,” says Scheler. “There’s a genuine sense of community as a way to escape reality through reading.”
By Ivy Griffith / Photo by Vladan Lukic
Have you ever returned home from a long workday to an empty refrigerator? That’s when most of us might pull up a delivery app and order a decadent feast that is anything but healthy. In that case, it’s time to call Prudence Moe, creator of PruFoods. The local entrepreneur offers well-balanced meals that are good for you, convenient, flavorful and made with love. Even better, they are delievered right to your door fresh, every week.
Before it became a business, meal prep was a way of life for Moe, a former health and fitness competitor. And while she eventually walked away from the restrictive eating that came with those competitions, Moe gained an appreciation and passion for nutrition. She began offering meal prep to her friends, and the business grew from there.
“In 2019, I graduated with my mechanical engineering degree right before COVID, and I couldn’t find a job,” she says. Moe knew it was time to reset, so she officially launched PruFoods. “I went all in, and it took off,” she says.
The business model is simple. “Every week, we put out a new menu, and people put in their orders,” she says. “I make extras in case people forget to order on time. Then, the meals go out by Saturday morning.”
With less time spent on prepping and cooking, her clients spend more time enjoying life. While PruFoods focuses on simple, healthy food, Moe’s meals are anything but dull. She is from Burma and appreciates ethnic cuisine and flavors, which she brings to every PruFoods menu. Her favorites include Jerk chicken and garlic chili shrimp; or breakfasts and snack such as peaches and cream overnight oats and sweet potato protein pancakes. Juices include the pineapple ginger shot and the spicy girl shot with lemon, ginger, cayenne and pink salt.
Moe also encourages customer requests and eschews restrictive eating for a well-balanced diet centered around a whole nutritional experience with protein, fat and everything the body needs in intentional moderation.
“I don’t support restrictive diets because they’re not sustainable. Many people don’t know about nutrition, so they don’t know what they lack. I’m a big supporter of delicious quality food.”
Check out what Pru is cooking this week @prufoods_ on Instagram.