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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 03 April 2009 14:03 |
Kelly & Bennett Murphy invite you to Platte Canyon Grill for
“a taste of South Louisiana in the mountains.”.
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“There is something about being in the swamp…
that seems to suck the poisons of civilization out of you.”
That quote from Cajun writer/photographer Greg Guirard sets the stage for “a taste of South Louisiana in the Mountains” at Platte Canyon Grill in the heart of Bailey right off U.S. Highway 285.
“…some sort of healing power in the air, the fog, the woods and waters, the tranquility, that melts the tensions and toxins of modern life right off and lets you begin to be yourself again.”
Breakfast, lunch and dinner is served at Platte Canyon Grill Tuesday through Sunday. It opens at 8 am. Breakfast is served until 11am. “Closing time is seasonal.”
Patron Cheryl Quaintance said, “If this place were in Arvada, you would wait an hour for a table and pay three times as much. It’s the best value in eating in Colorado.”
Platte Canyon Grill owners are Kelly and Bennett Murphy of Bailey. Kelly tells the “Grill’s” story:
1) What is your personal background?
Bennett, the brains behind the operation, is a New Orleans native and grew up in and around kitchens, where cooking is a social event. I was a transplant from Texas to LSU, where we met and married. Before moving to Colorado in 1998, we owned and operated three popular student establishments near the LSU campus for 18 years. Our children are K.C., who is married to a U.S. Marine, and Patrick, a freshman at CU and the best sautee chef we ever had!
2) How or why did you start or acquire your business?
After managing and cooking at a nearby dude ranch for several years, and after earning my teaching license and working at Platte Canyon High School for several more years, the old “Crow’s Foot” came up for sale and we decided to jump back into the hospitality business, but with a twist—South Louisiana cuisine in the mountains. Even in Denver we had heard dire reports of the poor quality and lack of authenticity of the Cajun/Creole restaurants there; and, keeping true to the spirit of his upbringing, Bennett has transplanted the cuisine intact from Louisiana.
3) Why is your business one of “the best;” what makes it special and beloved?
We are proud to be a family-owned and operated business, with ourselves and our children sacrificing for the last five years to make the restaurant a sucess. We have received many kudos in such publications as the Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News, and 5280 Magazine, as well as annual awards from the Mountain Connection and the Fairplay Flume. Most importantly to the community, we have provided high-quality dining, which is hard to find in the mountains, and we take particular pride in providing starter jobs for scores of our local youth, who have been a wonderful resource from the start. Platte Canyon Grill
60629 U.S. Highway 285
downtown Bailey
www.plattecanyongrill.com
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Last Updated on Friday, 03 April 2009 14:35 |
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 03 April 2009 14:03 |
Every item is made from scratch at JJ Madwell’s. From left, Jan Worthem; Tony & Camden Buccelli
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JJ Madwell’s is a family-owned and operated restaurant since 1996, located in one of the original Conifer/Aspen Park area homes.
Tony Buccelli and his wife, Jan Worthem, are the new owners. Tony has 20 years of restaurant experience and a lifetime of authentic Italian food and pizza cooking. Jan is a professor at the University of Colorado and handles JJ’s administrative duties.
Two fireplaces keep you cozy in the winter and a large patio is perfect on warm days and nights.
“Tony has always had a desire to own his own restaurant. About five years ago, on our way to our cabin in Foxton, we stopped by JJ Madwell’s for lunch,” Jan recalled. “We were talking and Jan said, ‘I could see you owning a place like this someday.’ And, here we are,” concluded Tony.
Why is your business one of “the best”?
We took over JJ Madwell’s restaurant in July 2008. We kept the same great food and Executive Chef Dave Schaffer, but brought a higher commitment to service and a friendlier atmosphere. We strive to constantly be involved and support our local community. Our patrons are not just customers, but our friends.
JJ Madwell’s
26412 Main Street, Conifer
www.myjjmadwells.com
303-838-1440 |
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Last Updated on Friday, 03 April 2009 14:33 |
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 03 April 2009 14:03 |
Pierre Martin “must be doing something right!”
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Pierre Martin at Computer Hounds LLC is astounded and grateful. The Mountain Connection Best Of award is his third such award recently. He shook his head, smiled hesitantly and quietly mused, “I must be doing something right.” Pierre is a computer “go to guy” specializing in computer sales, spare parts and service. If you have a computer question, ask Pierre. He assembles custom towers and refurbishes systems. He repairs and buys old laptops. He has used towers and laptops for sale starting at just $150. Business or house calls and pickup and delivery are available for a small extra charge. He tells everyone a little about himself, answering the following questions: 1) What is your personal background? Who am I? Good question. Well, I am French, but do not hold this against me. I visited three continents, found a nice girl and decided to stay here in Colorado. I am extremely independent minded and very stubborn. 2) How or why did you start or acquire your business? I always have been interested in mechanical things. In a perfect world, or if I would have grown up and gone to school in this country, I would have been an engineer. I started in the mid-1980s in this business, when the real estate management company I was working for brought in the first IBM PCs. I became the self-taught “guru” of the office. When I was laid off in 1992, I went to work as international sales manager for a Swedish owned company, selling PCs worldwide. After another stint as international sales manager with another electronics company, I created my own business because I could no longer work for somebody else—too much pressure from the boss and not enough rewards. Being your own boss, all the responsibilities and uncertainties are yours. But all the rewards are, too. 3) Why is your business one of “the best;” what makes it special and beloved? Well, it is mine, it reflects my personality. I can be messy, but there is a method to the madness. I am rough and can be very grouchy, bear-like. But I never give up. A lot of the work that I do other businesses will not do. I spend too much time trying to fix problems and issues, if I can. I am sorry if I am not 100% successful, but I try regardless. I know that people’s data is more valuable than the hardware, and I am not trying to squeeze all the money out of their credit card before they leave my store, unlike some larger businesses. They sell, sell, sell, and I fix, fix, fix. Through the years I have tried to connect with most customers and some of them enjoy what I do, and some of them have become friends. Thanks again for the award! Computer Hounds
Conifer Market Place (old Safeway center) Hwys 73 & US 285
www.computerhounds.com
303-816-0270 |
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Last Updated on Friday, 03 April 2009 14:14 |
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 03 April 2009 14:03 |
Bryan Hutchison outside his family’s modern lumber store & design center. “Green building” is his passion.
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Hutchison Lumber is a mix of old and new. It’s impressive new store and design center just off U.S. Highway 285 on Mount Evans Boulevard in Pine Junction is state of the art. You can sit with an expert and plan a project with color and material samples immediately at hand.
The ownership has been in the Hutchison family for 25 years, now run by founder Robert Hutchison’s son, Bryan, a former president of the Platte Canyon Area Chamber of Commerce. Bryan thanks Mountain Connection readers for their votes and answers the three Best Of…winner questions.
1) What is your personal background?
I am a father of two beautiful children, Abby, 4, and Aidan, 3. My current favorite song is “Lucky Man” performed by The Verve. I have an amazing father who helped show me how to be a good man, businessman and, more importantly, a good father. I enjoy taking hikes with my kids. They love Evergreen Lake and Meyer’s Ranch Open Space. My hobbies include softball, basketball, golf and swimming. My favorite professional moment thus far was handing out a scholarship to Joey Griebel who was one of three scholarship recipients for the Platte Canyon Chamber in 2005 and also younger brother of one of my classmates in 1998.
2) How or why did you start or acquire your business?
I was born into the business one year after my father acquired the business in 1978. Honestly, though my father never pushed the business on me, I grew up around it and would spend summers and winter breaks working my way through the ranks from dusting shelves, taking orders, building lumber packs, delivering orders, learning accounting systems, choosing the current computer system, managing our Florissant location and now managing all three (Pine Junction, Florissant and Fairplay) as president.
In recounting all of my mishaps recently, it came to my attention that I have wrecked in various ways almost all of our fleet of trucks; needless to say, I had a very patient boss.
I chose to come back and run the family business because I love the community we operate in and it’s fun to help build the community.
3) Why is your business one of “the best;” what makes it special and beloved?
It’s our people. Since 1978, Hutchison Lumber has employeed all local residents, all with various skills that help various customers from a home-owner looking for a specific part to finish a job or a contractor needing a siding pack for a new or remodeled house. Our current passion is learning about the “Green Building” movement. Hutchison Lumber & Design Center
186 Mount Evans Blvd
Pine Junction
www.hutchisonlumber.com
303-838-7116
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Last Updated on Friday, 03 April 2009 14:32 |
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