The slower than expected growth of the new Snowmass Base Village could be part of the reason for the failed restaurant nightclub concept of Junk and Liquid Sky. Or… it could have been a miss match from the very start.. The original idea of Liquid Sky with a combination of water and fire (outdoor showers and flaming torches), dance music, and a big old party really sounds pretty cool. But the idea born of Vegas may work more in a mountain town the year it hosts the olympics than it would any year in Snowmass. Snowmass is generally a more family orientated destination to begin with and does lack such adult entertainments. We agree that Snowmass needs to up its nightlife to compete with Aspen but it needs the right mix of ingredients.<\/p>\n
The restaurant Junk may have worked. Junk had a funky self service gourmet food deli case and an attitude toward fun. Our experience, however, left us wondering if that didn’t translate into confusion for the diner and aloufness on the part of the staff. These 2 business had the connection to the new restaurant Junk at the Red Onion that Aspenites where led to believe would open Summer 2008 then Winter 08\/09 then July 4th 2009. Junk at the Red Onion died a quite death this past summer, which led you to believe that these two would be soon to follow and makes you wonder if there may be another on the way. The real losers in this whole thing are the local contrators that provided construction services and are now out a combined $2 million.<\/p>\n
As far as the Red Onion sitting empty for two plus years, it’s a great name, has great memories, but now only an empty shell. When Wabs didn’t renew the rent on the Red Onion every Aspenite felt their heart sink a little because we knew that the new rent comanded would not allow a restautuer that would be able to keep the onion local and not some overpriced mismatched eatery. There is the story of the late 70’s when a new owner of the Red Onion said they were gonna make the place repectable and keep the Local Riff Raff out, well that was a piss poor business strategy and it didn’t last long. The owners of the building should do the right thing and make sure the right restaurantuer with the right Aspen spirit\/body\/mind set, can make the place a comfortable community gathering place. And maybe the folks that met at the Red Onion 50 years ago and celebrate their Annivesary there can do so once again and continue making good memories. I know its busines… but it’s also Aspen and from the begining of the cultural rebirth those with money have invested in the community to make it a better place. Let’s do that with this cool historic place.<\/p>\n
Read recent Eat Aspen restaurant articles<\/a><\/p>\n