All contents of this site © - All Rights Reserved
...and the rest of the story...
In earlier years, long before Pray formed the Golden Burro Cocktail Lounge, the building at 710 Harrison Ave. which now houses the Golden Burro hosted such businesses as 1899 Leo A. Klein Pianos and Organs (and music teacher), and later in 1900 the Moir and Curtis Bakeries. Fred Minor’s Home Bakery operated from 1901 and shared adjacent space with John Jorgenson, Tailor until 1911 when the Home Baking and Mercantile moved in. In 1915 A.T. Schaefer Hardware moved in for a 42 year run, while Jorgenson was replaced next door in 1916 by Feller & Threlke Bakers. Grove & O,Keefe Wallpaper Company replaced the bakery and operated next to A.T. Schaefer Hardware from 1918 to 1925. Other businesses came and went, like the Monarch Trading Company, and the A F of L Building Trades, but it was Frey who eventually established the expanded ownership of the current three lots which make up the Golden Burro Cafe and Lounge today.
For half a century the Golden Burro (fondly referred to as the “Brass Ass”) was THE meeting place for good friends, good food and community gatherings like the Toastmasters Club, Toastmistress Club, Business Men’s Club and many others over the years, including the Lion’s Club who met here regularly since the 1950’s. Then the Burro fell on bad times in the late 1990’s and almost closed.
In July of 2005 however, The Golden Burro was purchased by Leadville historian and videographer Dave Wright and his wife Jane from Jack and Carol Louma, both local residents for many years. It was the mission of the Wright’s to re-establish the “BURRO” as THE gathering place for great friends and great food, as it had been in years past. Newly remodelled with Pullman booths and walls covered with historical photos, the Golden Burro Cafe & Lounge along with its Brass Ass Saloon has now once again become THE gathering place for locals and Leadville visitors alike. It continues to receive national acclaim and has been featured in virtually every major city newspaper in the country.
THE BURRO IS BACK!!!
Little Known Facts & Rumors Debunked!
FACT: The Golden Burro is located in the historic 1889 building, built for Herman Richner designed by the famous architect H.C. Dimick. Dimick is noted by historians as one of the country’s great architects of the time.
BUNK: The Golden Burro was NOT lost to Charlie Frey by Roy Pray in a poker game. As Pary commented in his 2006 interview, “The whole story is bunk I should never have sold to my good friend Charlie, but he never missed a pyament... In fact I think he paid me off the $1,500 he owed me early.”
FACT: “String Cheese”, a well known rock group, played at the Golden Burro during the 1990 era and wrote and recorded the song “Dudley’s Kitchen” after the Golden Burro.
BUNK: George Washington never slept here!
...and now you know the rest of the story!
2011
Inside the BURRO Today