The owners of the BreckConnect Gondola’s newest neighbor wanted to make sure people debarking didn’t have to look far for a bar after a day of skiing or riding. 

Behind other Breckenridge restaurants like the Prospector and the Breckenridge Tap House, the Washenfelder Group swapped the location of its Vietnamese restaurant, Pho Real, for its newest addition, the Shifty Lifty Gondola Bar. Chad Washenfelder said Pho Real relocated to Adams Avenue because he long felt a bar was needed at the base of the gondola.

The Shifty Lifty opened July 16 with a menu featuring sandwiches, cocktails, beer, wine and more on the way this winter. 

“I describe it as a throwback-food joint inspired by vintage Breckenridge culture,” Washenfelder said. 

He said the group honed in on the idea of being able to get out of a gondola cabin and onto a bar stool in 60 seconds, although that could take a tad longer in ski boots.

Aside from the bar aspect, Washenfelder said the other focus of the Shifty Lifty is good sandwiches people can grab and throw in their bag before heading up a mountain to hike or ski. And before anyone asks, yes — there’s gluten free bread. 

Come winter, the Shifty Lifty is going to add even more. Head chef Olivia Hicks said she plans to start introducing grab-and-go breakfasts like sandwiches and kolaches. A Czech pastry adopted by Texans, she said kolaches can take a few different forms, but the one she plans to make will have a twist on the Texas-style ones that are typically a sausage wrapped in a croissant. 

The team is particularly excited about another winter addition that has nothing to do with the menu. An idea from bar manager Max Schroeder, they’ll put up a 3-by-2.5-foot iron or metal gondola with different size windows people can use as targets. What will people be throwing at the targets? Shot glasses made out of ice.

Further playing into the ski theme, people can find items like the Shifty Lifty’s take on an Italian sub, the Full Send, or their bacon, pesto, garlic aioli sandwich, the Powder Police. Hicks also put in a Chicago-beef inspired sandwich, the Breck Beef, she makes with bread sourced from a Chicago bakery. People can also build their own sandwiches, and other menu items include soups and salads, she said, so there’s truly something for everyone on the menu. Most sauces and syrups for drinks are made in-house.

The Shifty Lifty plans to start offering a winter deal that Washenfelder calls a “lifty shifty at the Shifty Lifty,” exclusively for people who work on a mountain, that involves a free first drink. The gondola bar also plans to introduce beat-the-clock promotions in the near future where things are cheaper earlier in the day and prices go up by the hour. Additionally, the Shifty Lifty has 15% year-round locals discount on food and beverage. 

The Shifty Lifty caters, as well, Washenfelder said.

Up until ski season starts, the Shifty Lifty will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. everyday. In the winter, it will start serving breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and stop once they’re out of what they made. He said the kitchen closes at 9 p.m., not the bar, which will be open a bit later.

He said the Shifty Lifty will have an opening party sometime after Labor Day with Highside Brewery next door. 

Sandwiches range from $12 to $18. The Shifty Lifty will have a seasonal rotating cocktail menu and signature cocktails starting around $12.

The Shifty Lifty is located at 301 Main St. Breckenridge. Pho Real is now located at 161 Adams Ave. in Breckenridge. More information can be found at ShiftyLifty.com.