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CHEYENNE - Both Rocket Snacks and Friends Creative Studio are expanding at Frontier Mall! Here's the scoop!
This page displays a re-write of a recent article on this topic that contained incorrect information. By the time you are reading this, all known errors will have been corrected and verified with Deb and/or Lori who previously co-owned Friends Creative Studio. Additional tweaks and updates (if applicable) will be noted as usual.
A glance at the history
➥[Friends Creative Studio's first/original mall location]
According to Frontier Mall, Friends Creative Studio is, "a destination for handcrafted home décor and artistic experiences. Their offerings include custom laser-cut and engraved wood signs, unique wall hangings and décor, creative art and painting classes."
| TOP: Friends Creative Studio seen on August 30th | BOTTOM: Coming soon sign seen in March 2025 - Optopolis |
Friends Creative Studio features products from various vendors which, as of the time of writing, currently includes
- Big Iron Creations
- Glass With Sass
- Johnson's Jewelry
The individuals who organized Friends Creative Studio as confirmed by the Wyoming Business Center Website include Deb Reynolds (Rocket Snacks) and Lori Chavez (Creator Created Create). The two have co-owned Friends Creative Studio since the official inception of the business.
| Various products inside of Friends Creative Studio (original location) - Optopolis |
Long ago, this corner space neighboring Dillard's was occupied by Burri Jewelers which still has a location near Converse Avenue and Big 5 Sporting Goods. For many years including but not limited to the early 2010s, a jewelry store called Samuel's Jewelry operated out of this corner store next to Dillard's, and more recently prior to Friends Creative Studio, this space was occupied by Crossroad Collectibles.
➥[Former Gymboree/Crossroad (new Friends Creative Studio)]
Crossroad Collectibles moved to the former Gymboree space by mid-February 2024. However in December 2024, it was reported here at Optopolis that Crossroad Collectibles would be moving to The Exchange on FE Warren AFB with plans to expand to Downtown Cheyenne. The FE Warren location has opened, but it's not yet clear to Optopolis the exact location where Crossroad Collectibles will open their additional location--or even where things are on that venture.
| Various individuals connected Friends Creative Studio work to install one of two signs at the new store location - Optopolis |
According to the Grand Opening Directory for Frontier Mall in the Wyoming State Tribune-Eagle, dated Mar. 17, 18, 1981, this space was originally occupied by Brooks Fashions, a store offering ladies wear. Any additional tenants in the 80s and 90s aren't currently confirmed by Optopolis, but according to a 2002 save of the Frontier Mall Website, Gymboree was listed at this space.
➥[Former First Class Painters/Bourbon Street (new Rocket Snacks)]
The space (which will soon be occupied by Rocket Snacks and Beyond Candy Shop) was most recently occupied by First Class Painters of Cheyenne; they were starting the process of refreshing the space as of February 2025 and opened by or before mid-April. It's not clear to Optopolis when First Class Painters closed their storefront, and the last post on their Facebook page is dated April 22nd.
 First Class Painters repainted/beautified the front portion of then-former Bourbon Street Candy, but walled off the back portion - Optopolis |
Prior to First Class Painters, many different tenants have occupied this space including Bourbon Street Candy Co, a massage parlor, and Pretzel Time. Additional tenant history isn't currently clear to Optopolis, but it's noteworthy to mention that Bourbon Street Candy Co moved next door before closing permanently (now occupied by SHIKI).
➥[Rocket Snacks opened as a kiosk in 2024]
In August 2024, Rocket Snacks, a business specializing in freeze-dried snacks (candy, ice cream, fruit, veggies, etc.), opened a kiosk at Frontier Mall; it celebrated a grand opening on August 31st, 2024 to September 2nd, 2024. The owners, Deb and Ed Reynolds, originally started Rocket Snacks in 2022 after being encouraged to start the business by one of Deb's close friends, Laura.
 Rocket Snack's Kiosk celebrated its grand opening over Labor Day Weekend 2024, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. - Optopolis |
Laura, also a Cheyenne business owner who then-previously sold freeze-dried snacks, quickly became close friends with Deb. After being diagnosed with cancer, Laura moved to Utah for treatment and to be with family, and before leaving, Laura encouraged Deb and Ed to start their own freeze-dried business.
Throughout the years, Rocket Snacks has offered their products at various locations around Cheyenne. Optopolis is aware that Rocket Snacks' products were being sold at Twinkle Twinkle Little Store's downtown location, but they've also popped up at farmers markets, craft fairs, and even Beach Please's Downtown store. According to Cap City News' Stephanie Lam, Rocket Snacks has even offered their products at 307Made (Downtown Cheyenne) and Frontier Trampoline Park's snack bar!
| LEFT: Rocket Snacks products inside of Friends Creative Studio's original location | RIGHT: Customers visit Rocket Snacks at Farmers Market 2025 at Frontier Park - Optopolis |
Now in 2025 at the point where Rocket Snacks is, Deb told Optopolis that Deb never thought Rocket Snacks would become a candy store at Frontier Mall; she didn't even know this shift would be the next step for Rocket Snacks until more recently which is the point when certain stones fell in place to allow this to happen.
Friends Creative Studio to celebrate Grand Opening
Friends Creative Studio, located across from SHIKI and near Dillard's (space 44), plans to have a grand opening on Friday September 5th starting at 4 PM and running till 7 PM; the event will continue on September 6th at 11 AM to 7 PM and September 7th at noon to 6 PM as confirmed by their Facebook event page. The old location closed at approximately 6 PM on August 31st so that the rest of the store could be moved to the new location.
| Various perspectives of the new Friends Creative Studio location after their sign was installed outside of the store; some products, a painting/crafting station, and the checkout area are already present - Optopolis |
As of the morning of August 30th, Friends Creative Studio could be seen installing one of their two store signs above the entry to their new location, the long-since-former Gymboree; their other store sign is anticipated to be installed near the checkout counter inside of the new space. Some items had already been set up inside of the new space, but the bulk of the products still needed to be moved into the new location. A crafting work station area was also already set up inside of their new space.
By September 1st, most of the store was already set up and ready to go, while old store was void of products. It's worth mentioning that the new Friends Creative Studio, going forward, will be owned entirely by Lori who also owns Creator Created Create while Deb will be focussing on her new candy shop.
Rocket Snacks and Beyond Candy Shop anticipated to open in October
Rocket Snacks and Beyond Candy Shop, soon-to-be located next door to SHIKI and Planet Fitness (space 67), still has some work to do. Now that Friends Creative Studio's old location has closed, Deb will be able to put her focus on her new store front that will soon house Rocket Snacks and Beyond Candy Shop.
 During mall walking hours, view of Rocket Snacks and Beyond Candy Shop before it gets prepared for soon-to-be occupancy - Optopolis |
The front portion of the old Bourbon Street Candy Co store received a makeover when First Class Painters opened in the space, but the back part (which still looks like Bourbon Street's store) now looks out of place and will require a bit of work to prepare it for new occupancy.
Rocket Snacks and Beyond Candy Shop hasn't yet set in stone the date which they plan to open, but they are targeting sometime in October. Although freeze-dried snacks will be available, this is planned to be a, "complete candy shop," and they plan to offer regular candy such as Jelly Beans and other nostalgic items in addition to their freeze-dried snacks.
 Coming soon sign in the window of Rocket Snacks and Beyond Candy Shop. The back part of the store, seen here, still looks reminiscent of Bourbon Street; it wasn't drastically changed during First Class Painters' occupancy - Optopolis |
At this time, it's not clear to Optopolis what business may replace the long-since-former Samuel's Jewelers space, but this change will allow for the replacement of two previously vacant storefronts. Once Rocket Snacks and Beyond Candy Shop opens, Frontier Mall will once again have two similar yet very different takes on candy at a candy shop.
What do you think?
Are you excited to see Friends Creative Studio expanding at Frontier Mall? What candy do you hope to see at Rocket Snacks and Beyond's new store front? Let us know what you think in the comments!
PUBLISHED: 09/01/2025 at 4:06 PM MT (Original article was created on August 31st, but it was retracted due to incorrect info. This article has all known issues rectified.)
UPDATED: 09/01/2025 at 5:55 PM MT to add newly found links to vendor pages.
Do you have questions or concerns? Need to report a correction? Email Optopolis at any time; please include a link to the article in your message.