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Business

  • Lack of business prompts closure of El Rancho restaurant

    The historic El Rancho restaurant has closed, and it remains uncertain whether it will reopen under new operators.

    Mark Johnston, who has leased the restaurant from property owner Doug Antonoff, closed the establishment in November because of financial losses.

    “There just wasn’t enough business to sustain it,” said Johnston, who lives in Detroit. “We were doing about $1,000 in business a day with $3,000 in costs. You can do the math. I just couldn’t go any longer.” About 20 employees were laid off as a result of the closure.

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  • BUSINESS BEAT: Peak Hot Tubs carries on in wake of owner’s death

    Peak Hot Tubs & Spa Services is in good hands despite the death of former owner “Hot Tub Charlie” Ganse.

    The new owner, Rod Hunt, was a good friend of Ganse’s. In fact, the two had lunch together three to five times a week.

    “People thought I should buy (the business),” Hunt said. “I want to try to keep his legacy going.”

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  • The weather, and the holiday spirit, are delightful at Luckylure

    Not a snowflake was in sight, but Christmas spirit still blanketed the sunny scene at Luckylure Christmas Trees in Evergreen on Sunday afternoon.

    From toasty marshmallows to tall tannenbaums to jolly little ones, the atmosphere was all yule — while temperatures hovered in the low 60s. 

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  • BUSINESS BEAT: Crystal Cowgirl up and running in Kittredge

    Women who like western wear — or prefer something not so western — should check out Crystal Cowgirl, a new upscale women’s consignment clothing shop in Kittredge.

    Located in Adobe Creek, the shop is owned by Kittredge resident Crystal Lovell Harnden.

    “I love the idea of recycling and giving women more opportunity to afford something that they might not be able to afford new,” Harnden said. “This is something I really wanted to do.”

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  • Exploring ways to encourage local shopping

    Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce president Lin Browning has begun meeting with local organizations and business representatives to explore ways to encourage people to shop locally.

    “The piece that the chamber brings is a natural fit,” Browning said. “It’s not a chamber initiative,” she added.

    While talking with those involved in the effort, Browning said it has become obvious that the entire community needs to collaborate in a partnership.

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  • Looking for a gift? Imagine that!

    If you’re starting to think about presents for hard-to-shop-for friends and family, consider Imagine That! in Marshdale.

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  • Ice House Café gets new owners

    The Ice House Cafe in downtown Evergreen has been sold and will be renamed the Muddy Buck.

    While it’s an unusual name, new owners Diane and Alan Florschuetz think it has a “mountain-y” feel. “Muddy” comes from a word for really dark coffee, and “Buck” comes from the wildlife that Diane is enamored with.

    “I researched and researched,” Diane said, “and Muddy Buck just seemed to fit.”

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  • Keys on the Green closes

    Keys on the Green restaurant and golf shop at the Evergreen Golf Course has closed effective Nov. 1.

    RLR Inc., which has had the concessionaire contract to operate both businesses since 2001, terminated its contract with Denver Parks and Recreation effective Nov. 7. Denver Parks operates the golf course. RLR ended its contract six months early.

    On Tuesday, Ron Reif of RLR Inc. was cleaning out the golf shop. The restaurant was expected to continue serving food through Wednesday. There were no signs on the building indicating that the restaurant was closing.

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  • Transforming sun's energy into savings on electric bills

    An array of 40 photovoltaic panels strategically placed in the yard of Mike and Joan Spalding’s home in Kerr Gulch is generating enough electrical power to keep them warm and take a huge chunk out of their utility payments.

    Hank Kaanta of Evergreen Sun Power, who oversaw the installation of the 10-kilowatt solar electric system, estimates that it will produce an average of 15,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a year, or 1,250 kWh a month. 

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  • Natural Grocers expanding in Bergen Park

    Construction began last week to double the size of the Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage in Bergen Park, with the expanded store expected to be open by late spring 2013.

    The current store, which opened in 2004, will continue to do business during construction. When completed, the expanded store will be about 16,800 square feet.

    The new store will be similar to the stores being built elsewhere, said Scott Smith, a representative for Natural Grocers.

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