Monica and David Kowalski spent years working in the finance and healthcare sector. While they were content in their careers, they had always dreamt of one day opening a pub-style restaurant.
“Monica loves to cook, we love food, and we also love to travel,” David says. “We always talked about opening a place inspired by our travels. While visiting Iceland, we made a point to visit a world-famous pub there called Lebowski Bar. We fell in love with the theme and decided it was great idea for our future establishment.”
The catalyst to finally take the leap toward opening their business came after a layoff at Monica’s job. Despite having no experience in the food industry, they were excited for the challenge. After months of planning, construction, and adding personal touches, Lebowski’s Taproom opened its doors in August 2023.
House Coffee Liqueur
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the movie The Big Lebowski, the main character was a huge fan of White Russian cocktails. It is a drink that is composed of coffee liqueur, vodka and cream. Serendipitously, Monica’s father used to make his own coffee liqueur and she wanted to bring the nostalgia of his recipe to the public.
The Kowalskis named their coffee liqueur, Kool-Luah, and then curated a beverage program that focused on utilizing their house-made elixir. The public became enamored with Kool-Lua and frequently asked the Kowalskis to bottle and sell it. They reached out to Black Hat Distilling to collaborate on the project.
“We initially ordered two thousand bottles and then sold fifteen hundred bottles in presales alone,” David says. “We knew we would need more before our first order was fulfilled. Since then, our coffee liqueur can be found in various Colorado restaurants, bottle shops, and has influenced a new ice cream flavor at Josh & John’s. We have also won silver in two national spirits competitions.”
Scratch Recipes
When designing the menu, it was important to Monica that each recipe was made from scratch with high quality ingredients.
“Whenever possible, I use Colorado-sourced ingredients and products to support local businesses,” she says.
The menu at Lebowski’s offers a variety of pub fare, including burgers, sandwiches, wings, as well as various appetizers and desserts. They also offer weekly specials to bring more variety to the menu. If you’re a fan of brunch, they offer an exclusive brunch menu that leans heavily towards breakfast items and drink specials.
Community Pride
The Kowalskis love their community and show their affection in many ways. In their bar and restaurant, local spirits, ingredients, and products are served with pride. They treat their employees and customers like family and have created welcoming atmosphere. And finally, they frequently host and participate in events for and by the community.
“Making connections with people is one of the best aspects of our job,” Monica says. “We love our community and enjoy creating partnerships, impacting others, and giving back to those in need.”
Website: https://www.lebowskistaproom.com/
Instagram + Facebook: @LebowskisTaproom