Five finalists gave presentations to the Dillon Town Council about their proposals for running the Dillon Marina’s tiki bar at the council’s Feb. 3 work session. After hearing the presentations and asking questions, the council chose the next tiki bar operator.

The Keystone Coffee Co., which operates several restaurants in Keystone and Breckenridge, won the contract. Council members were especially impressed by owners Justin and Elissa Slezak’s proposal to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner at the tiki bar.

“It’s a really hard decision to make, to narrow it down to just one,” council member Rachel Tuyn said. “What really stands out to me is the breakfast, lunch and dinner. That’s what really sets Keystone Coffee Company apart from the rest.”

Pug Ryan’s Brewery has run the tiki bar since the early 2010s, but the brewery’s contract with the town is set to expire in November this year and did not allow for renewal. The council decided to issue a request for proposals in August 2025.

The Slezaks told the council about their experience running 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. They have been concessionaires at over 200 events, Justin Slezak said, and have a trailer at the Frisco Bay Marina that serves coffee and breakfast and lunch food items.

The idea to have full-day service at the tiki bar, the Slezaks said, was inspired by the Arapahoe Cafe, which operated up the hill from the tiki bar at Lake Dillon Drive and La Bonte Street for decades before closing in 2023. Justin Slezak said he and his wife have lived in Dillon for 17 years and miss the Arapahoe Cafe.

“They had the best patio for breakfast,” Justin Slezak said. “We were there almost every weekend. So our vision is to bring something similar to that for the tiki bar.”

Their vision for breakfast service includes a breakfast menu, coffee options, a full espresso bar and grab-and-go options for people passing by on the recreation path or heading to their boats in the morning.

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The proposals the applicants submitted had more details about proposed menus, but the Slezaks went over a few highlighted items in their presentation, like burgers, fries, homemade wonton chips, ice cream and coffee. They said they would prioritize freshly sourced ingredients and have plant-based options as well.

Justin Slezak said the couple will look at the kitchen trailer currently at the tiki bar to see if it would work for them, but he said they would likely purchase a new one. Other upgrades they have planned for the site include adding tents with removable sides and heaters for better wind and rain protection and putting up more tiki decor.

“We’ve actually looked into getting some tikis from Florida,” Justin Slezak said. “We know a person that actually sells these. I think we could make it into a really cool looking theme there.”

The Slezaks said they have around 50 employees at all their businesses during the winter, but they have fewer in their slower summer months. They said operating the tiki bar would let them keep more of their workers on staff year-round. 

The couple also mentioned wanting to have more events at the tiki bar, like a monthly luau, happy hours, local musician performances or a dog party.

“Everybody loves dogs here in Summit County,” Justin Slezak said. “Almost everyone has one.”

Council deliberation

The Keystone Coffee Co. gave the third of five presentations at the meeting. The others were from Angry James Brewery and Burke & Riley’s Irish Pub, which had a joint bid; Eagle BBQ in Copper; RPW Foods, which runs Opa Greek Eats at the Dillon Amphitheater and other locations; and Fritangas Mexican Restaurant in Silverthorne.

Council members thanked all the business owners for their applications and presentations, and several said they wished there was a way to bring all their restaurants to Dillon.

After a few minutes of members making comments, Mayor Carolyn Skowyra said it sounded like Keystone Coffee Co., Angry James and Burke & Riley’s, and Fritangas were the top three options. She asked the council members to pick their top choice out of the three.

Council members Kyle Hendricks and Oliver Luck said their top choices were Angry James and Burke & Riley’s, and Tuyn said hers was the Keystone Coffee Co. Samuel said his top choice was the coffee company, as did council members Linda Oliver and Barbara Richard. 

With four of the seven members choosing the Keystone Coffee Co., Skowyra said the council wanted to award the contract to the Slezaks.

“Council is interested in the breakfast, lunch and dinner options, the unparalleled sort of community feel and ability to handle volume,” Skowyra said.