Interview with Mike Stillman, owner
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
A: My grandfather, Leo Stillman, purchased the Ace back in 1961. It was a rough and rowdy bar back in those days, and Golden was more like an Old West town. In the early ’70s, my dad, Sid Stillman, took over and really solidified the Ace-Hi as a Golden favorite hangout for so many of our local residents as well as students from School of Mines just a few blocks away. In 2012, Dad passed away and it truly was a rough time for our family as well as our customers. At that time, I was busy with another business, but the thought of the Ace coming to an end or leaving the family wasn’t something I wanted to see happen. So I made a few changes in my business and was able to take over the bar and keep my dad and grandad’s legacy going. Luckily, I have an amazing staff and my manager, Bonnie, who helped me with the transition, has been here for 30 years and definitely knows the customers and the business.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: We truly have an eclectic group of customers. Some have been coming here since 1961! We are the only bar in town that is open from 7 a.m.-2 a.m. Many of our patrons work just down the street at Coors, working graveyard shift, so they can come on over after work. We offer an early happy hour for those guys, too.
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: Without a doubt it would be the relationships we make here. Our customers are like family and we all look out for each other. There’s some very talented people from various lines of work that walk through my door every day, and almost anything we need repaired or maintained I have qualified people to lend a hand. They all take pride in their home bar and have an interest in keeping things running right.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
A: Even though we have a loyal following here, we can’t afford to rest on our past successes. The town of Golden is changing and we have to adapt with it. We try to strike a balance between keeping the Ace the way it’s always been to please our longstanding customers, while at the same time we need to attract new customers. We’ve updated many of the ways we do business here.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: The building where the Ace-Hi stands was erected in 1879 and served as a public meetinghouse, theater space — and, at one time, a brothel. Some of the old-time photographs show the dirt road in front, which is now Washington Avenue, with horses hitched to posts instead of the rows of parked cars we have today.
Profile
Business: Ace-Hi Tavern
Address: 1216 Washington Ave., Golden
Hours: 7 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday
Founded: 1961
Contact: 303 279-9043;
Employees: 14
