Colorado Springs restaurants that are gone but not forgotten
When Maryland-based Mission BBQ celebrates the grand opening of its first Colorado Springs location Tuesday, it will be just the latest in a constant wave of new restaurants coming to town.
But as the Springs’ culinary landscape continues to evolve with national, regional and home-grown additions, it also has said goodbye over the years to many favorites.
We asked readers via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram what defunct restaurants they miss the most and wish would return. Hundreds responded, hungry for their favorites to be resurrected.
Could any return? Never say never. After all, Denver’s cherished Casa Bonita, which closed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, is reopening thanks to new owners and “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. And in the Springs, the family-favorite Fargo’s Pizza reopened a year ago after a lengthy pandemic-induced closure.
So what topped the list of long-lost restaurants that residents crave? Despite the arrival in recent years of eagerly awaited national chains In-N-Out Burger and Whataburger and the proliferation of other burger joints, local hamburger chain Conway’s Red Top earned the most nods by far. As one reader proclaimed on Facebook: “Those burgers and the cheese fries were quite memorable and enjoyable!”
Red Top, co-founded by Norbert Conway in 1944, was known for its plate-sized hamburgers that were so large that “one’s a meal.” At its peak, there were five locations in the Springs and one in Pueblo. But the chain ran into money troubles amid a struggling local economy; the last location, at 390 N. Circle Drive, closed in August 2012 as it faced the threat of IRS seizure for delinquent federal withholding tax payments.
So what other restaurants are readers most missing? Here’s a look at some of the other top vote-getters.
• El Taco Rey. Its loss is much more recent than most of the others; the Mexican restaurant, a Colorado Springs institution for four decades, closed permanently in January 2022. It had closed months earlier after the death of Rosemary Aguilar, the matriarch of the family-owned restaurant. She died Sept. 20, 2021, at the age of 80. Grieving family members initially planned to reopen El Taco Rey, but ultimately decided against it.
“The pork avocado burrito smothered in green chili was life changing,” one reader on Facebook recalled. Another posted a simple plea on Instagram: “Plz come back.”
• The Hungry Farmer. “Fun atmosphere and AMAZING soup,” one fan recalled. The restaurant on Garden of the Gods Road closed in 2003 after nearly 35 years. It was known for its generous servings, country atmosphere and live music — that last aspect leading to a tradition of annual reunion concerts bringing together musicians who had regularly performed there.
• Furr’s Cafeteria. There were several locations at one time in Colorado Springs. According to a lengthy history at Referenceforbusiness.com, Furr’s was started by “forward-thinking Texas supermarket magnate Roy Furr,” who opened the first Furr’s Cafeteria next to one of his Odessa, Texas, grocery stores in 1947. Furr’s Restaurant Group would go on to develop locations in 11 states, offering “a variety of home-cooked favorites, including carved meats, baked fish and chicken-fried steak, fresh salads and vegetables, oven-baked breads and our famous desserts.” Kmart acquired Furr’s in 1980, according to the online history; that was followed by another ownership change in 1988 and a bankruptcy filing in early 2003, when the last Furr’s in the Springs closed.
• Steaksmith. The once-popular steakhouse, in business since 1981, closed in 2012. Owner Dawson Hubert told The Gazette then that Steaksmith, at the northeast corner of Academy Boulevard and Maizeland Road, was hurt by growing competition and the flight of many retailers from Academy to Powers Boulevard. Hubert, a former City Council member, was Steaksmith’s third owner.
• Giuseppe’s. Giuseppe’s Old Depot Restaurant, downtown at 10 S. Sierra Madre St., shuttered in October 2011 after nearly 40 years to become a special events center. The Ochs family, which has owned the historic building since 1971, would later change course and decide to divide the space into multiple restaurants. “The space is overwhelmingly large and we decided to divide it into several smaller spaces,” Charles Ochs told The Gazette’s Teresa Farney in August 2019. “It would be more interesting than being just one concept.” The former Giuseppe’s is now home to Brakeman’s Burgers and Track 10 An Urban Kitchen; a third restaurant, The Sandwich Depot, has apparently closed. Several smaller businesses also occupy Old Depot Square, once the Denver and Rio Grande train depot.
• Michelle’s. Michelle Chocolatiers & Ice Cream, a family-run, downtown institution for more than 50 years, closed in 2007. Like Conway’s Red Top, it ran into financial difficulty, with the IRS seizing the Tejon Street building to satisfy federal tax liens. Today, it’s home to Munchies in space leased by MaryAnn and Chuck Thomas, who began with their Munchies719 food truck before fulfilling their dream for a brick-and-mortar location. The Munchies website describes it as “an old school diner with American Fusion twists.”
Here are some reader comments about other restaurant favorites gathered from Facebook and Twitter.
• Coquettes. It was downtown and 100% gluten free. They had an amazing bakery and some of the best food. I could eat anything there without fear of getting sick. It has been a struggle finding another spot like it.
• County Line (Barbecue). Best beef ribs, coleslaw and potato salad ever!
• Zio’s Italian restaurant. Best Italian food I’ve ever had. Also loved Bennigans.
• Silver Pond Chinese Restaurant. Amazing food and owners!
• Ponderosa was the best back in the day.
• Beulah Shagnasty’s Dixie Pig! I don’t know how many people remember it, but it was on North Nevada near the bottom of Austin Bluffs hill. They had some excellent baby back ribs.
• Absolute favorite was Three Thieves!
• The Mission Inn (best mission burrito),Hungry Farmer (just a super fun place) Blue Star (if you couldn’t decide where to go, this place was the answer.
• Beau Jo’s. I know there are still others In Colorado, but we have fond memories of the Old Colorado City one.
• Speedy G’s. The best smothered burritos!!
• Rocco’s Italian. Best spaghetti buckets with delicious thick egg noodles and homemade meatballs
• Hungry Farmer and Red Top like everyone else, but how about Howard’s Pit BBQ on Colorado Ave?
• Soda Straw! It was a fun place for teens and families to gather, had great food and ice cream.
The Conway’s Red Top at 390 N. Circle Drive was the last of the local hamburger chain’s locations to close in August 2012.
El Taco Rey closed in 2021 after the death of Rosemary Aguilar, the matriarch of the family-owned restaurant that reigned for four decades on Colorado Avenue downtown.
The former Michelle’s Chocolatiers & Ice Cream storefront at 122 N. Tejon St. remained largely vacant for many years after the longtime candy and ice cream favorite closed in 2007. It’s now home to Munchies.
Steaksmith restaurant closed its doors in 2012.
The Hungry Farmer restaurant closed in 2003.
Giuseppe’s Old Depot Restaurant, downtown at 10 S. Sierra Madre St., shut down in October 2011.
