Holy delayed opening, Batman!

Remember when there was supposed to be a new tavern that was going to open on Main Street?  Man, that seems like a long time ago.  I wonder what’s going on with that project.

I’ll tell you what’s going on!  CB’s Tavern is on the move again.  It is official – the building permits are posted and it’s time for a little Rock ‘n Roll.  Rather than sleigh bells, you’ll hear the sound of power tools at 334 Main Street during this holiday season.

Since we last updated the blog-o-sphere, we were busy making some renovations.  First, we scrapped the idea of refinishing the existing hardwood floors, because we would have to remove layers of linoleum that were installed during the Cretaceous Period (there were fossils in the tar paper).  The labor involved would have meant some extra sessions at the Cooper Family Chiropractors.  Instead, we purchased 2,000+ square feet of laminate flooring that looks nice and is durable.  The majority of the front area has been completed, sans the bar and walk-in cooler.

Also, we’ve got the ceiling looking spiffy.  We kept the original ceiling tile, because 1) it was in good shape and 2) it had the retro look we wanted.  However, the stark white coloring made us feel like we were about to be institutionalized.  (Actually, some times we have felt crazy for taking on this project, so that may be the place for us.)  The ceilings are now a stunning bronze that compliments the red brick wall and dark oak floors. 

So now the fun part FINALLY begins.  We have conquered a mountain of red tape, secured financing, and have laid the foundation for a *hopeful* opening in February.  We are asking all future patrons to knock on every visible piece of wood, cross your fingers/toes/eyes/legs/etc., and pray to whomever you consider to be your higher power that things go smoothly during construction.  We will try to keep you all updated with photos.

May your holidays be filled with family, friends, and beer!

Patience makes the heart grow fonder... and thirstier

"Patience and fortitude can conquer all things." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ol' Ralphie probably wasn't building a bar when he uttered those words.  But in the grand scheme of things, he is right.  After starting into this project, there wasn't much of a light at the end of the tunnel.  However, bit by bit, we have made some tremendous progress.

She's a brick... wall.

For starters, the walls are finito!  They have been de-plastered, grinded, re-mortared, and sealed.  And they look spectacular!  In all honesty, I am not certain if these century old walls have looked much better.  Here's a fun fact for you CB's followers: When you have four grinders going at the exact same time, you can create a mini-haboob with pretty limited visibility.  (If you are unfamiliar with the what a "haboob" is, I promise that I am not trying to be obscene.  It is definitely one of my new favorite words.)  These walls bring in quite a bit of character to the space already. 

The floor looks like Charlie Brown's shirt

Now that the walls are complete, we have turned our attention to the ceiling and floors.  The old ceiling tiles are in good shape, so they are going to stay.  They need to be cleaned and painted.  Also, so that we can bring everything up to code for fire safety, we are in the midst of getting quotes on sprinkler systems.  The ceilings actually produce a whole litany of "to do" items, such as speakers, lighting, etc.  (We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.)  As for the floors, we might need a professional paleontologist to peal back all of the layers.  We have carpet on top of linoleum on top of tar paper on top of tongue and groove hard wood.  So far, all of the carpet is pulled up, and we are waiting on the linoleum so that we don't have to tape off the floor when we paint the ceiling.  The tar paper has seemed to preserve the hard wood floors well, so hopefully not much work is needed to restore this gem.  I repeat: hopefully.  And on a side note:  In the great history of Western Civilization, who the hell ever thought that linoleum looked good?  I've seen more attractive patterns on Bill Cosby's sweaters.  I can't wait to get rid of this stuff.

Understandably, the goal to open by Deltarado Days was not achieved, and that is okay.  You can't rush a good thing.  Construction is in a holding pattern until we get everything up to code.  Once we pull that final permit when zoning is complete, watch out!  We'll be able to move much more quickly.  So hang in there folks, because this will be worth the wait.  That first beer from CB's is going to taste ever so delicious when all is said and done.  Until then, we'll just keep plugging away.




Carrie seems deep in thought.

 

Another brick in the wall...

Hey CB’s followers!  Long time, no blog.

For those of you walking down Main Street who have been peeking into the window for the past few weeks, you can tell that demolition has picked up speed recently.  Now that we have made the move from Denver to Delta officially, it is all hands on deck. 

As a result, the walls are 99.9% de-plastered as of today.  And, oh, what surprises we have found underneath that plaster.  On the north wall, we found the outline of what appears to be an old doorway that has been filled in with yellow brick.  We have been brainstorming on how to highlight this part of the wall.  One idea that we are toying with is installing an actual door as a “drunk test” for those who are too inebriated to find the actual bathroom. 

On the south wall, we have discovered a ton of multicolored bricks – some green, some black, some with writing on them.  It is obvious that this wall was constructed during a time when folks simply had to use what resources they have readily available.  This was recycling before it was cool.  We are trying to avoid using the wire brush excessively on these bricks to maintain their integrity. 

Next on the “to do” list…

o   Finish demo on back walls

o   Paint the ceiling tiles

o   Pull up the carpet and tiles on the floors to refinish the hardwood underneath

If you like breaking stuff, feel free to volunteer.  We typically start work every Tuesday and Thursday around 6 pm.  Bring your scrubs and be prepared to work your butt off.

We are getting closer to finishing demo so that we can actually do something constructive.  The floor plans have been almost finalized.  All that is needed is the stamp of approval from the architect, and we can get moving on the actual construction. 

Finally, from the human resources front, CB’s Tavern is now taking applications and resumes.  If you can pour drinks, serve food, and chat it up with patrons (while chewing gum simultaneously), feel free to inquire about job opportunities.

Welcome to CB's Tavern!

The word around town is spreading fast, but a little extra promotion certainly doesn't hurt.

First off, a little background about us.  CB's Tavern started with a simple mission -- create a place that is an inviting hangout.  A place where you can grab a bite to eat or a cool drink after work.  A place where you can eat wings and watch the Broncos (hopefully when they are winning).  A place where friends can converse without competing with the volume of a jukebox.  A place where we plan to provide good service for a decent price.

Sounds simple enough, right?  While the mission is easy, our vision is what will make us unique.  CB's Tavern plans to represent the community that it calls home.  Our ultimate goal is to keep all things local.  Downtown Delta is in the middle of revitalizing itself, and we're excited to be a part of this movement.  What does that mean exactly?  That means partnering with local businesses, promoting local vendors, hosting community events, and -- most importantly -- serving some of the best best beers that the Western Slope has to offer.  Bottom line:  If we want our community to take pride in our business, we have to take pride in our community first.

So where do we stand right now?  The planning process has been completed (relatively speaking).  Paperwork has been filed.  Signatures have been collected.  Local government has approved.  Financing has been established.  Equipment has been purchased.  Licenses have been officiated.  We've even made the news (check out the footage).

Now begins the grunt work.  With the Paper Works Ink moving next door, we will be converting the old shop.  What you have grown accustomed to seeing at 334 Main St. will be significantly different than what you will see in the future.  (Stay tuned for pictures as construction unfolds.)

The ideal opening day will coincide with Deltarado Days, so -- if you're local -- you already have this date marked in your calendar.  If all goes well, we look forward to serving you this summer.

Cheers!