Fifty-one years after opening its doors, Pug Ryan’s Brewing Co. closed Sunday, April 5. The closure comes after the Dillon Urban Renewal Authority voted in February to purchase the brewery at 104 Village Place.

Pug Ryan’s had operated the tiki bar at the Dillon Marina since 2011, but the Town Council selected a new concessionaire, the Keystone Coffee Co., in February in anticipation of Pug Ryan’s tiki bar contract expiring in November 2026. Keystone Coffee Co., which operates several restaurants in Keystone and Breckenridge, was not supposed to start operating the tiki bar until summer 2027.

With Pug Ryan’s closing due to the town’s purchase of the property, town manager Nathan Johnson wrote in an email that the owners of Keystone Coffee Co., Justin and Elissa Slezak, agreed to move up their takeover of the marina restaurant to summer 2026.

According to the Slezak’s February pitch to the town, its owners intend to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner at the tiki bar. The Slezak currently run Steep Brewing and Coffee Co., a two-location business that roasts fresh coffee and brews craft beer; Snowbird Cafe and Bistro, which serves fried chicken, waffles, wings and more; Breckenridge Coffee House; and Breckenridge Coffee Roasters, which is a coffee wholesaler.

A Facebook post announcing Pug Ryan’s closure thanked the brewery’s “loyal guests, dedicated staff, and supportive community.”

“What began as a simple dream grew into a place filled with laughter, stories, friendships, and unforgettable memories,” the post stated.

Dillon staff memos about the town purchasing the Pug Ryan’s property, as well as nearby 105 Village Place, stated the town has been working with Colorado Mountain College to explore “future possibilities.” The Town Council, which has the same members as the renewal authority board, passed an intergovernmental agreement with the college at a meeting the same night as the renewal authority’s vote to purchase the properties.