Print
E-mail
Comment
Owner looks for way to save local brewpub
The landmark Jarre Creek Ranch Restaurant and Brewing Company in Castle Rock has shut its doors for an indefinite period while its owner looks for a way to save the prominent locally owned brewpub at the intersection of U.S. 85 and Meadows Parkway.
By By:Vicky Gits
The landmark Jarre Creek Ranch Restaurant and Brewing Company in Castle Rock has shut its doors for an indefinite period while its owner looks for a way to save the prominent locally owned brewpub at the intersection of U.S. 85 and Meadows Parkway.
The award-winning beer-brewing operation on the ground floor of the three-story building will stay open for the time being under the direction of brewmaster Justin Moore, who continues to be employed there, said Steve Long, owner and founder of Jarre Creek Brewing Co.
A former resident of Sedalia, Long is an attorney for Shughart, Thomson and Kilroy in Denver and lives in Denver.
Jarre Creek handcrafted microbrew beer is sold by the keg to Castle Rock area restaurants, including The Old Stone Church and Castle Café. About 50 percent of the beer produced at Jarre Creek is sold by the keg, while the rest is consumed on the premises, Long said.
Moore, the brewmaster, won two medals at the Great American Beer Festival in October, a gold medal for Weathervane Weissbier, a German-style wheat beer, and a bronze medal for the Pitchfork Pale Ale, a classic, English-style pale ale.
While the beer will continue to flow, the future of the restaurant operations is uncertain. Jarre Creek has a sports bar on the second story and a sit-down dining area on top, both of which open onto patios and decks with panoramic views of the Front Range. The establishment closed March 13.
Long said he isn't sure whether he will sell the building and continue to operate the restaurant, sell the restaurant and continue to own the building, or sell both. The building is not yet listed for sale, Long said, although he is considering offers.
"There's a lot of interest in commercial property in Castle Rock lately," he said. "We are trying to finalize an arrangement with a partner so that we can do some renovations that would include a complete refurbishment and restructuring of the menu. We have been in business since August 2001. We have a steady following and I would like to appeal to a larger population," Long said.
The Jarre Creek was adversely affected by the cluster of competing "major corporate franchise" restaurant openings in the Milestone area in fall 2003, Long said, referring to restaurants such as Outback Steakhouse, Red Robin and Sonic Drive-In.
Other negative factors were the impact of 9/11 and the general slowdown in the economy and failure of promised movie theaters to open sooner.
"I believed the development around us would come sooner than it has. I thought the theaters would open in 2002," Long said. Two movie theaters broke ground simultaneously in Castle Rock in March, the Stadium 12 in The Meadows and the Grand north of The Outlets.
The restaurant business would have benefited greatly if the new Castle Rock Grand complex north of The Outlets had been built sooner, Long said.
Jeff Drabing, general manager of the Rockyard American Grill and Brewing Co. in Castle Rock, a popular casual eatery, said, "I honestly think the market is oversaturated...They were probably a casualty of increased competition."
Like Jarre Creek, Rockyard's business took a hit when Red Robin and the Outback opened a couple of years ago, Drabing said.
Red Robin began to attract a lot of the families with kids, Drabing said.
"We have always striven to be family oriented but Red Robin was more kid friendly. They have lots of things for kids to do and a game room. So we lost our kid business for awhile. But it came back," Drabing said. "We just don't have an extra room for kids."
Drabing said his business was up substantially compared to a year ago. "I think it's just good, consistent food and service," Drabing said.
The award-winning beer-brewing operation on the ground floor of the three-story building will stay open for the time being under the direction of brewmaster Justin Moore, who continues to be employed there, said Steve Long, owner and founder of Jarre Creek Brewing Co.
A former resident of Sedalia, Long is an attorney for Shughart, Thomson and Kilroy in Denver and lives in Denver.
Jarre Creek handcrafted microbrew beer is sold by the keg to Castle Rock area restaurants, including The Old Stone Church and Castle Café. About 50 percent of the beer produced at Jarre Creek is sold by the keg, while the rest is consumed on the premises, Long said.
Moore, the brewmaster, won two medals at the Great American Beer Festival in October, a gold medal for Weathervane Weissbier, a German-style wheat beer, and a bronze medal for the Pitchfork Pale Ale, a classic, English-style pale ale.
While the beer will continue to flow, the future of the restaurant operations is uncertain. Jarre Creek has a sports bar on the second story and a sit-down dining area on top, both of which open onto patios and decks with panoramic views of the Front Range. The establishment closed March 13.
Long said he isn't sure whether he will sell the building and continue to operate the restaurant, sell the restaurant and continue to own the building, or sell both. The building is not yet listed for sale, Long said, although he is considering offers.
"There's a lot of interest in commercial property in Castle Rock lately," he said. "We are trying to finalize an arrangement with a partner so that we can do some renovations that would include a complete refurbishment and restructuring of the menu. We have been in business since August 2001. We have a steady following and I would like to appeal to a larger population," Long said.
The Jarre Creek was adversely affected by the cluster of competing "major corporate franchise" restaurant openings in the Milestone area in fall 2003, Long said, referring to restaurants such as Outback Steakhouse, Red Robin and Sonic Drive-In.
Other negative factors were the impact of 9/11 and the general slowdown in the economy and failure of promised movie theaters to open sooner.
"I believed the development around us would come sooner than it has. I thought the theaters would open in 2002," Long said. Two movie theaters broke ground simultaneously in Castle Rock in March, the Stadium 12 in The Meadows and the Grand north of The Outlets.
The restaurant business would have benefited greatly if the new Castle Rock Grand complex north of The Outlets had been built sooner, Long said.
Jeff Drabing, general manager of the Rockyard American Grill and Brewing Co. in Castle Rock, a popular casual eatery, said, "I honestly think the market is oversaturated...They were probably a casualty of increased competition."
Like Jarre Creek, Rockyard's business took a hit when Red Robin and the Outback opened a couple of years ago, Drabing said.
Red Robin began to attract a lot of the families with kids, Drabing said.
"We have always striven to be family oriented but Red Robin was more kid friendly. They have lots of things for kids to do and a game room. So we lost our kid business for awhile. But it came back," Drabing said. "We just don't have an extra room for kids."
Drabing said his business was up substantially compared to a year ago. "I think it's just good, consistent food and service," Drabing said.
Submit a Comment
|
You must be logged in to post a comment.
|
Not yet a registered member?
Click here to become one. |
