Article Contributed on: 5/12/2009 12:00:18 PM
While Morrison is known for something red, as in the iconic Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, it's something blue that's been feeding hungry concert goers for the past 19 years.
Another Morrison icon - a massive blue cow mounted on a pole at The Blue Cow Eatery, 316 Bear Creek Ave. - smiles to tour buses and locals traveling just minutes down the road from Red Rocks.
The owners of the Blue Cow have been scooping sundaes and serving hamburgers since 1990 to the likes of Big Head Todd & the Monsters, who like to keep a low profile when they come in.
While husband and wife owners
Charlie and
Pam Nathan prefer the regulars, whom they refer to as "good people" and "family," the big name acts that roll through town add some excitement to their normally quiet paradise 30 minutes from the bustling streets of downtown.
When Phish performed in 1996, it was so insane the Nathans had T-shirts printed that read, "I survived the '96 Phish Red Rocks Tour."
Fans took over the small town, which normally has a population of just over 400.
Pam's flower garden was trampled, fans ate off plates of paying customers and the Nathans couldn't even hire security because no one wanted to attempt to control the craziness overflowing from the streets into their tiny eatery.
Although Phish fans weren't the Nathan's favorites, Widespread Panic fans are "polite, good kids," Charlie said.
"Good kids" are the ones the Nathans have grown fond of, so much so they refer to them as, "family."
Over the years they've employed many teens in the summertime trying to save money for college. In return, in addition to hourly pay and tips, the Nathans give what they can - $500 or so - at the end of each summer for the student's college tuition.
"All these kids work hard and we want to reciprocate," Charlie said. "It's just about what it's about. We don't feel like we're going to get rich doing this, but if you can help, you help."
To get to the point where the couple can give back to the community, has been a "long, long tough road," Pam said.
In 1990, they offered $30,000 for the restaurant, a long shot considering the asking price was $75,000. They got it and went to work.
Charlie, who had managerial experience and had learned to cook by watching his father, went to work in the kitchen, while Pam, who grew up in Morrison working in a restaurant, worked the front.
It was slow going.
For example, there was no indoor plumbing in the beginning so patrons had to use portable restrooms outside the burger joint.
"I thought if I have to tell another person they have to go outside to use the restroom, I'm going to go crazy," Pam said.
So they added indoor plumbing. Then came an outdoor patio and an expanded menu, which includes the restaurant's most well-known and most devoured dish, Charlie's breakfast burrito smothered with homemade green chili.
With porta potties a thing of the past and a wait list on weekends, the couple admits their worries of survival are almost obsolete - however, there's still the '09 Phish Red Rocks Tour.
| The Blue Cow |
316 Bear Creek Ave., Morrison
303-697-5721
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