The Telluride Daily Planet - The Pulse
Published:12/07/06
Main street sees same restaurants, new locations
Honga's, Las Montañas/ Sofio's and Brown Dog stake ground on Colorado Ave.
Spring is all about rebirth. In Telluride, several restaurants are making a new start as they relocate to new addresses on main street. In a game of musical chairs, many of Telluride's favorite restaurants are making the move to main street, but keeping their original names and menus.
Things may look different on main street, but Honga's will still roll up Sushi and Las Montanas/Sofio's will still serve up Mexican fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With renovations taking place at both of the aforementioned restaurants, the summer season promises to provide a variety of new, but old places to pop into for a bite to eat.
At 133 E. Colorado Ave., former site of the Roma Bar & Café, Honga's Lotus Petal, a favorite Telluride restaurant featuring Asian cuisine, sushi and mojitos, is under renovation in preparation for an opening later this spring.
Just as absorbed in the construction process, Sofio's, Telluride's longest-established restaurant, and Las Montañas, one of town's newer eateries, will merge together, offering both menus at the space formerly occupied by Eagles Bar and Grille, 100 W. Colorado Ave.
Formerly set at 200 S. Davis, Las Montañas opened in 2004 with a pan-Latin menu offering regional specialties from South and Central America. Sofio's Restaurant, formerly located at 110 E. Colorado, was established 26 years ago and came under the current ownership in 2001. Almost as old as the Telluride ski mountain, Sofio's continues to offer Mexican specialties, especially during their busiest meal of breakfast.
After acquiring the main street location, Las Montañas has been remodeling the former Eagles space since January.
According to Fletcher McCusker, owner of Las Montañas, he and Sofio's owners David and Lisa Schroeder quickly saw the value of joining forces rather than competing, and have been quietly negotiating the merger.
"We are thrilled to be joining forces with Sofio's," McCusker said. "The restaurants were going to be two doors apart. The Eagles space is huge, and by co-locating both restaurants under one roof, we'll both be eminently more successful."
Las Montañas and Sofio's will open for private parties in mid-May and open to the public in time for Mountainfilm, May 26.
Adding to Telluride's eating opportunities, Sofio's current location will become home to new - and old - restaurant operation.
While Las Montañas former space at 200 S. Davis is still on the market, the space formerly occupied by Sofio's, 110 W. Colorado Ave., will serve as the new home of Brown Dog Pizza, previously located at 103 W. Colorado Ave. where the Floradora Saloon is currently located.
Previously a popular bar for grabbing a drink, stuffing down a slice and watching sports, the Brown Dog plans to open their doors later this spring.
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