Fires, Fight, and the 23rd Space: How Yobel & Look Up Gallery Built a Community-Fueled Comeback

Season 2 kicks off with Reanna and Jason reintroducing The Bucket (aka the third co-host) and welcoming Clay & Emily Ross, the powerhouse duo behind Yobel and the Look Up Gallery. Over bourbon and real talk, they unpack what it actually takes to survive as a small business: a pandemic shutdown, a devastating fire that wiped out everything, skyrocketing rent, and a relentless search for the “right” space (spoiler: it was space #23).But this episode isn’t just a comeback story, it’s also a mission story. Clay shares the hard math behind the “starving artist” reality and how it inspired Primer, a nonprofit that subsidizes studio rent so artists can keep creating without drowning.If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe it’s over,” this episode is your sign: community shows up, if you let them.What you’ll hear in this episode:In this episode 👇🔥 The 2023 fire that wiped out everything and the comeback plan🏙️ Why they toured 23 spaces before finding “the one”🎨 The truth about the “starving artist” math (even after a big sale)💛 Primer’s mission: rent subsidies to support studio artists🍸 Why modern retail needs experiences, not just transactions🤝 Community as the secret weapon for surviving small business chaosSupport + Visit ✅💛 Support Primer: primer.art👕 Shop Yobel at 517 S Cascade Ave, Suite E (alley-side), Colorado Springs📷 Check out Yobel instagram - https://www.instagram.com/shopyobel/ & The Look Up Gallery - https://www.instagram.com/thelookupgallery/🎉 Best night to go: First Fridays (5–9pm)“Get your asses down, grab a drink, and meet our friends.” 🍻😄