Though Carbondale’s population is just 6,000, The Village Smithy Restaurant is one of the busiest in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Though Carbondale’s population is just 6,000, The Village Smithy Restaurant is one of the busiest in the Roaring Fork Valley.
“It is insanely busy, probably one of the top five busiest restaurants in the valley without question, including Aspen,” said Jared Ettelson, managing partner of The Village Smithy, which serves breakfast and lunch and seats about 120.
The Village Smithy at 26 S. Third St., in business since 1975, has been Accredited with the BBB Serving Northern Colorado and Wyoming for more than 22 years.
“It’s what you do. If you want to run a business and be part of the business world, there are a couple things, joining the BBB is one and joining the local chamber in your town is another,” Ettelson said. “They’re two great resources to have on your side.”
Ettelson runs The Village Smithy, while his business partner, Charlie Chacos, operates Bonfire Coffee Co., a coffee shop and roaster in Carbondale. Chacos’ parents, Chris and Terry, opened The Village Smithy to fill a niche in Carbondale, since there wasn’t a breakfast and lunch place in town. They’d quit their jobs as physical therapists and left a growing Aspen “to escape the hustle and bustle of the rich and famous,” using their own recipes to build a restaurant, Ettelson said.
The Chacos turned a former blacksmith shop, originally opened in the early 1900s, into a restaurant after it had been the largest tropical fish store in the valley, in business since 1974. “It was the community place to start your day off,” Ettelson said. “This was the place to hang out, to be seen.”
Chacos bought the restaurant from his parents in 1998, and Ettelson joined as a partner in 2009, then in 2011, they bought Bonfire Coffee.
The Village Smithy, all brick on the outside with some brick in the interior, is decorated with blacksmithing tools hanging on the walls, old-fashioned knickknacks, and smiths’ doors and fences to create a casual, fun atmosphere. There also is rotating local art in the restaurant’s three different sections and an enclosed patio.
“We try to keep the original heritage,” Ettelson said. “The whole front resembles a cleaned-up version of what a blacksmith’s shop was.”
In the evenings, Ettelson opens up the restaurant for private events, such as rehearsal dinners and parties. For a while, he and Chacos offered a seasonal dinner with brunch items, but the turnout was inconsistent. What has become consistent, though, is the product of “good comfort food” that’s been served for the past 47 years, he said.
“We’ve kind of cornered the market,” Ettelson said. “When you go to McDonald’s, you know what you’re going to get. When you go to Smithy’s, you know you will get good service and how the food will turn out.”
The Village Smithy menu is eclectic Mexican-American with items like hamburgers, sandwiches and salads for lunch and traditional and Mexican-inspired items for breakfast, such as McGurks, loaded hash browns, and McJuevos that combine traditional huevos rancheros with McGurks. There’s also a full coffee and espresso menu serving Bonfire Coffee, which Chacos and Ettelson roast and ethically source, and a traditional breakfast bar with drinks like mimosas, Bloody Mary’s and screwdrivers.
“If you have history on your side and great service and a great menu, it keeps everything moving,” Ettelson said.
Ettelson likes that the BBB also has history and longevity as a business resource. “People know if you have questions about an establishment or questions in general, it’s a good resource to go to, to get true and real information,” Ettelson said. “You’re going to a reputable resource that isn’t biased.” Anybody can write reviews on various review sites, but if a review is less than favorable, the BBB will contact the business to tell its side of the story, Ettelson said. “They’re not here to take care of us, but to make sure that businesses are reputable,” Ettelson said. “The BBB is there to help make sure they can help your business succeed. Part of that is by being able to answer people’s questions.”
The Village Smithy is a constant recipient of the BBB’s Best in Safety Awards through the Safety Group program, sponsored by Pinnacol Assurance to reduce workers’ compensation costs by promoting safety and decreasing the number of claims in the workplace.
“To me it means working for a safe environment for employees primarily and guests secondarily to make sure everyone walking in the front door is taken care of in a healthy and safe manner,” Ettelson said. “The downtime that can come with injuries or lawsuits, that’s a big deal. That’s a huge thing that can make anybody look at a safety program.”
A few of the locals notice The Village Smithy’s Best in Safety Awards plaque on the counter. “I like the fact they can see we are doing good things,” Ettelson said.