BizBeat: Two downtown Golden hotspots celebrating 30th anniversaries

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Charlie Sturdavant essentially started Golden City Brewery in his backyard in October 1993.

Now, while the operation is slightly bigger, the Sturdavants are still running everything out of their property at 920 12th St.

e “second-largest brewery in Golden” is turning 30 and plans to celebrate its anniversary later this year. GCB owners have discussed hosting a joint celebration with Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza, which is also celebrating its 30th anniversary.

“We kind of grew up together in this town,” Sturdavant said of the two businesses.

Sturdavant and his wife, Janine — both geologists — sold their rst beer on Halloween 1993. Initially, the operation did beer-to-go with some wholesale accounts, but that morphed over the years thanks to the customers.

e beer garden, for instance, brought picnic tables and chairs when they stopped by to drink beer, Sturdavant said. So, GCB built an ofcial beer garden, which he believed was the rst in Colorado as other breweries came by to study it.

Sturdavant described how, when GCB started, there were only 23 other breweries/brewpubs in Colorado. Of those, only six remain, he said, adding, “We’re the only one left under the same majority ownership.”

Now, Sturdavant’s children have essentially taken over the operation, as his son is the head brewer and his daughter runs the bar.

During those rst years, Sturdavant’s goal was to educate the public about craft beer, and he attended a lot of events to spread the word.

Meanwhile, GCB itself grew in popularity with locals and tourists, as it was the only brewpub in Golden for several years. It has a lot more competition now than when it rst started, but as a beer fan, Sturdavant was excited.

“ ey’re making Golden a beer destination,” he said.

For more information about Golden City Brewery and its 30th anniversary, visit gcbrewery.com.

Woody’s: From pool hall to pizza destination

Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza, at 1305 Washington Ave., is also celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. e famous pizza spot is planning to host a special event in September with music, beer and pizza.

Manager Tootie Flaugher, who’s been with Woody’s since it opened in November 1993, recalled how it was initially a “pool hall with a little pizza oven.” Along with pool, Woody’s had shu eboard, air

Thu 3/16

Amaryllis The Band @ 7pm

Tenia Nelson: Spherio Plays

Thelonious Monk @ 6:30pm Nocturne, 1330 27th St, Denver

Mobley @ 7pm

Meow Wolf Denver | Convergence Station, 1338 1st St, Denver

Dj Ashton Martin @ 7pm

DNVR NCAA TOURNEY, Denver

Thunderstorm Artis @ 7pm Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver

Patches @ 8:30pm

Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Welton St, Denver

Dance System @ 9pm Bar Standard, 1037 Broadway, Denver

Fri 3/17

State 38 DistillingSt. Patrick's Day @ 4pm State 38 Distilling, 400 Corporate Circle, Suite B, Golden. don@ state38.com, 720-242-7219

Denver Of�cial St Patrick's Day Bar

Crawl @ 5pm / $9.99

Pour House on Market + Various Venues, 1410 Market Street, Denver. info@pub crawls.com

Easton Corbin @ 8pm / $35

Grizzly Rose, 5450 North Valley Highway, Denver

Ewan McVicar @ 9pm 1134 Broadway, 1134 N Broadway, Denver

Brewery Rickoli, 4335 Wadsworth Blvd, Wheat Ridge

Sat 3/18

Nicole Moudaber @ 7pm ReelWorks Denver, 1399 35th St, Denver

Sun 3/19

The Grass Project Live @ Station 26 @ 1pm Station 26 Brewing Co., 7045 E 38th Ave, Denver

DevilDriver @ 6pm Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake St, Denver

Mon 3/20

Ryan Cassata @ 6pm Seventh Circle Music Collective, 2935 W 7th Ave, Denver

KEN mode + Frail Body @ 7pm Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Marty Nightengale @ 5pm

The Golden Mill, 1012 Ford St, Golden

Coastless

Creatives Presents: Stereo Ontario and Friends @ 9:30pm

Broadway Roxy, 554 S Broadway, Denver

Whitney @ 8pm Bluebird Theatre, 3317 E. Colfax Av‐enue, Denver

Float Like A Buffalo @ 7pm

The Woodcellar Bar & Grill, 1552 Bergen Pkwy #101, Evergreen

Boot Juice at the Wood Cellar! @ 9:30pm

Wood Cellar, 1552

Bergen Pkwy #101, Evergreen

Spoon Benders @ 8pm

Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Tue 3/21

MAESU @ 8pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver

Witt Lowry @ 8pm

Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, 2637 Welton St, Denver

Wed 3/22

Krooked Kings w/ Mind's Eye @ 7pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver

Tank and The Bangas @ 8pm Bluebird Theatre, 3317 E. Colfax Av‐enue, Denver

Thumpasaurus @ 8pm

Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, 2637 Welton St, Denver

Satan @ 8pm HQ, 60 S Broadway, Denver

POWERWOLF @ 8pm Ogden Theatre, 935 East Colfax, Denver hockey and a few arcade games.

After about a generation, Woody’s started turning into more of a restaurant. Flaugher believed it was because the children who’d grown up with Woody’s were now bringing their own children to enjoy it. As the wait times got longer and longer, Flaugher said the sta had to start taking out pool takes to add more seating.

Before long, it was a full-time pizza joint with no pool table in sight.

Flaugher said the regulars have kept Woody’s going, especially through COVID-19, but visitors also have a hand in spreading the word. She said

Meet Xena!

Golden City Brewery patrons enjoy the beer garden on March 3. The brewery is commemorating its 30th anniversary this year, with a special celebrations planned for the fall.

people from all over the country get recommendations to stop by Woody’s. On the weekends, especially during the summer, wait times can exceed an hour. So, Woody’s opened a takeout kitchen in November 2019 and has participated in the city’s Washington Avenue outdoor seating program.

Along with the customers, Flaugher said Woody’s wouldn’t be where it was today without its sta , many of whom are longtime employees. Some have worked there for 15-plus years like herself.

“It’s where my family and friends are,” she said. “It’s home.”

For more information about Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza and its 30th anniversary, visit woodysgolden.com.

Denver Biscuit Company planning to open downtown this summer brands in one location this year. on weekends. e menu has biscuit sandwiches with a few dinner-style options, typically running from $1015, Lotz explained. en, Fat Sully’s sells New York-style pizza by the slice and by the pie, along with salads, wings and “a pretty mean burger,” he described. It will operate from 11 a.m.-2 a.m. every day. He said 26-inch pizzas start at $20, while slices are about $4.50 each before toppings. Fat Sully’s will have both dine-in and take-out options, including “a slice window” for customers who want a quick meal, he continued.

Denver Biscuit Company, Atomic Cowboy and Fat Sully’s plans to open at 1100 Washington Ave., Suite 102 in late June or early July. e business recently received its liquor license from the city.

Nathan Lotz, senior vice presidentoperations for Atomic Provision, said the operation will mirror its original location, which started as a bar, added a pizza joint and then added Denver Biscuit Company.

“ at’s why we’re this confusing triple-brand operation all under one roof,” Lotz said at the liquor license hearing.

All three brands will operate out of 1100 Washington Ave., which will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day.

Golden City Brewery o ers a flight of four beers for patrons. The brewery is commemorating its 30th anniversary this year, with a special celebrations planned for the fall.

Atomic Cowboy, the bar, will serve drinks for both DBC and Fat Sully’s. Lotz said his company had a lot of customers from Golden who wanted to see a location open here, and the building at 1100 Washington Ave. was perfect.

FoothillsAnimalShelter.org

Golden is getting a trifecta of food

Denver Biscuit Company will be open from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

“We tend to lean toward buildings that are older with a lot of character,” he continued. “ … We’d be honored to be in the city.”