Meet Eva Hatch: All things Julian, CA

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eva Hatch and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eva, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting a business has always been a childhood dream. Because I struggled in school, the idea of working for myself seemed like the best career path for me. Fast forward to my freshman year in college I decided to use my tip money to fill a gap in my home town’s economy. Visitors were always asking me where they could buy locally made items, and at the time pie fresh-made pie was about the only option. After lots of trial and error, I decided to make a San-Diego-County-inspired candle line and established Mountain Made in 2017. As I began to get involved in the business community, I realized that there was another gap in the market. The San Diego backcountry, Julian in particular, was in desperate need of quality tourism information. This led to the creation of the Mountain Made Blog. I began writing blog articles centered around the most common questions visitors asked. Over the last year, the Julian community has seen a sudden influx in population as many Americans are leaving cities for less-populated areas. Right away it became clear to me that newcomers needed someone to teach the ropes of backcountry living. So, I’m also creating resources for residents.

What should our readers know about your business?
My business is unique because I listen to requests made by potential customers. I can’t tell you how many times someone has asked me where they can buy locally-made items. It took me a bit of time, but I finally realized I was the “somebody who should do that.” I’m just filling the needs within my local community and market. There are thousands, if not millions, of candle companies in the United States. As far as I know, I am the only candle company in Julian that makes candles inspired by local aromas. I am constantly testing my products to make sure my customers are receiving a quality product. It’s really important to me that the candles are safe to use and the aromas smell true-to-life. The Julian apple pie you bring home will only last a few days, if that. The Mountain Made Julian Apple Pie candle, which smells like the real deal, can definitely last until your next pie run and without the calories! There’s nothing quite like seeing how much customers love a product you have spent so much time designing. Every order makes my day. I am truly grateful for their support. That being said my favorite part of being an entrepreneur is getting to use the revenue from the business to return the favors given to me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Julian is known for gold, apple pie, and snow days. But we have so much more for you to experience! One of the coolest things about Julian is that it’s the perfect day trip destination and also far enough away from home to enjoy an extended stay experience. I always tell visitors to get pie first thing in the day to avoid lines. You can’t get a bad pie in town. My go-to order is apple boysenberry crumb with cinnamon ice cream. Exploring the unique shops in the historical district is a great way to walk off the calories. For the history lovers out there, you can do a self-guided walking history tour as you walk the town’s sites. Julian is turning into a food and beverage destination. Local restaurants are serving their best dishes ever. You gotta start your day off with breakfast from Regulars Wanted. Their house-made bread is delicious. My pick for lunch in town would be the smoked pork ribs at Julian Beer Co. They have a great selection of house, guest, and local alcoholic beverage brands available. Another great option is Colt’s Burger Bar. They are just outside of the Julian Historical District in the neighboring town of Wynola. For activities, visitors can pick between gold mining, a variety of animal interactions, walking or driving tours, and outdoor exploration. Watching the sunrise on Sunrise highway is an amazing experience. If you get the chance, don’t turn down the chance to see the sunset at Inaja Memorial Park. As for overnight accommodations my top picks are glamping with Alter Experiences, staying in historic The Gold Rush Hotel, Crooked Pine Farmhouse, Cottage on a Rock, or the Julian Inn. These hosts are sure to make your Julian vacation over the top. There’s so much to discover in Julian. Readers can learn all about the region plus my local tips and tricks on the Mountain Made Blog.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without a doubt, I wouldn’t be who I am today without the greater Julian community. The community always comes together to fill any need. Through donations and volunteer hours, local residents made sure we had school textbooks, sport teams, field trips, and scholarships for college. And if that wasn’t enough, they now support my business.

Website: https://www.mountainmademe.com/
Instagram: @mountainmademe
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evelina-h-790349191/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mountainmademe
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mountain-made-julian#:~:text=We%20are%20a%20small%20business,ve%20got%20your%20needs%20covered.
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFxrO1Q9R70WTfpgX-KIvg?view_as=subscriber

Image Credits
All photos were taken by Jennifer Gutierrez