{"id":2447370,"date":"2026-06-06T03:52:42","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T03:52:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2447370"},"modified":"2026-06-06T03:52:42","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T03:52:42","slug":"revamped-tiki-bar-at-dillon-marina-opens-under-new-management-with-plans-for-live-music-to-go-offerings-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/revamped-tiki-bar-at-dillon-marina-opens-under-new-management-with-plans-for-live-music-to-go-offerings-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Revamped tiki bar at Dillon Marina opens under new management with plans for live music, to-go offerings and more"},"content":{"rendered":"

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When the Dillon Town Council selected Justin and Elissa Slezak\u2019s proposal<\/a> to become the new operators of the town\u2019s lakeside tiki bar, the operating agreement would have had the owners of the Keystone Coffee Co., also known as STEEP Brewing and Coffee Co., take over in the summer of 2027.<\/p>\n

The old operator, Pug Ryan\u2019s Brewery, closed April 5<\/a> after owner Chris Locke agreed to sell its building<\/a> to the town. Justin Slezak said the town approached him to ask if he and Elissa would take over the tiki bar operation a year early.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey showed a lot of flexibility (on) when we\u2019re going to open and that kind of thing,\u201d Justin Slezak said.<\/p>\n\n\n

The STEEP Brewing Lakeside Tiki Bar<\/a><\/svg> had a soft opening Memorial Day weekend, and Justin Slezak said it fully opened shortly after as it received the last of its needed permits and approvals from the county health department. He said it was an \u201cextreme challenge\u201d to get everything ready in about a month and a half.<\/p>\n

\u201cI called in a lot of favors,\u201d Justin Slezak said. \u201cEvery day has been 10-12 hours a day working down here to get it open, a lot of sleepless nights, and a lot of weeks where you didn\u2019t have a day off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

STEEP brought a lot of employees from its other locations over to the tiki bar, including the manager and assistant manager, Justin Slezak said. The team\u2019s experience, the Slezaks\u2019 experience running other restaurants and the help of the Dillon Marina staff have made it possible to open in a tight timeframe, he said.<\/p>\n

The work required to get the restaurant ready included revamping the decor, staining the deck, buying all new food and drink equipment, purchasing a new food trailer, installing a small stage for live music, acquiring the necessary permits and licenses and more.<\/p>\n

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A new stage and tent sit in front of a boat at the STEEP Brewing Lakeside Tiki Bar on June 2. The recently opened tiki bar plans to have live music a few nights a week under its new management.<\/figcaption>
Kyle McCabe\/Summit Daily News<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

New tiki-themed decor aligns with the new menu, which has several tiki-themed items, like the shrimp tacos, tiki burger and poke wonton nachos, which Justin Slezak said have been a \u201cbig hit.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got Colorado grass-fed beef in here that is really high quality, so we\u2019re trying to put together a really good burger concept,\u201d Justin Slezak said. \u201cThe feedback we received last weekend \u2026 has been (the food is) a much needed improvement.\u201d<\/p>\n

STEEP has two brewery and coffee roastery locations in Keystone, and the Slezaks are bringing their company\u2019s beer and coffee to the tiki bar. Justin Slezak said the tiki bar has six STEEP beers on tap and serves coffee from opening until around 4 p.m. each day.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re doing some higher-end espresso drinks and some espresso cocktails as well,\u201d Justin Slezak said. \u201cThey\u2019re pretty popular right now with espresso martinis and stuff like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Six beer taps line the back wall at the STEEP Brewing Lakeside Tiki Bar on June 2. The recently opened tiki bar features beer brewed by STEEP Brewing and Coffee Co., which is owned by the tiki bar\u2019s new operators.<\/figcaption>
Kyle McCabe\/Summit Daily News<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The breakfast food menu includes breakfast burritos, tacos and sandwiches, and Justin Slezak said the restaurant plans to add more as the summer season picks up. All the food is available to-go, he said, for anyone looking to grab food before going out on a boat at the marina. The tiki bar also has canned cold brews.<\/p>\n

The tiki bar also features pastries from Bad Bunnie Baking Co.<\/a><\/svg>, which is a wholesale bakery in Dillon. One pastry, the island-style banana nut bread, is exclusive to the tiki bar.<\/p>\n

Besides updated menus, the new version of the tiki bar is bringing live music to the lakefront restaurant. A stage will host acts regularly, Justin Slezak said, although the exact schedule has not been finalized. He said the restaurant will likely also have open mic or karaoke nights, and once it develops a schedule, it will post an event calendar on its website.<\/p>\n

The tiki bar is working with the Summit Music Relief Fund<\/a><\/svg>, a nonprofit that helps local musicians in need, to book local artists. Justin Slezak said that Dillon Marina manager Craig Simson has also been helpful in finding interested acts.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think, right now, they have 48 people that want to play down here,\u201d Justin Slezak said. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to bring music at least a couple of days a week.\u201d<\/p>\n

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