Update 9:30 a.m. on April 6, 2026: The Couloir will open to the general public on Friday, April 10 with a grand opening party to following in the new few weeks.
Original story:
Since 2019, when opened its new factory on South Broadway in Denver, it has wanted to welcome the public and cultivate a community of mountain sports enthusiasts. It has done so in a limited capacity by offering tours of the production space where its skis and snowboards are made and by hosting occasional private events.
But soon Meier will open to the public in a bigger way with an onsite bar that offers a chance to après every day — no snow or lift ticket required.
as itap called, will be a taphouse serving local craft beers, Colorado-made wines and no-frills cocktails. Itap expected to open this spring after almost three years of planning and permitting, said spokesperson Michelle Kidd Eynon. She envisions La Couloir as a place where locals can gather after any mountain activity, all year-round.
“We think Denver is a ski town. We’re just a little further from the mountains. So have your ski day at Copper, get closer to home, walk or Uber over to Meier, and talk with other people who were skiing at Winter Park or Arapahoe Basin,” Kidd Eynon said. In the summer, she pictures recreators coming together after a mountain biking or hiking excursion.
The Meier brand goes back to 2009 when founder Matt Cudmore started making skis in his garage in Glenwood Springs. Now-owner Ted Eynon was first a fan of the skis who bought in and helped expand the operation into a factory near Glenwood. In 2016, Eynon moved the operation to the new factory in Denver at the site of what was previously something of a private gentleman’s club for Denver Nuggets players, complete with a pool-table area, a bar, even a cigar and wine room.
Seven years ago, Meier relocated once again to the 6,200-square-foot production facility at 1775 S. Broadway, in the Overland neighborhood, where it now resides. The bar occupies 1,500 square feet along the street-facing side of the property with a storefront like other retail businesses in the area.
Perhaps the first clue that guests are entering a ski factory is the ceiling, which is decorated with planks of aspen and beetle-kill pine wood, as well as Meier skis and snowboards. “All of our years of oopsies,” Kidd Eynon said. The company uses primarily Colorado trees to make the wooden cores of its gear in an effort to make the production process more sustainable while also making a product that is long-lasting.
“Performance comes first. Nobody wants to ski the most eco-friendly ski in the world if it’s not a fun ski,” Kidd Eynon said. “We’re trying to make this ski something to last and keep it out of the landfill for longer.”
Patrons who belly up are served by “skitenders” who can also offer “barstool tours” of the press room, where graphic designs are sublimated onto the fiberglass by big machines, through giant glass windows behind the bar. Additionally, pairs of skis with bright graphic art line the bar walls as decor, providing something of a showroom for folks interested in learning about the products — or maybe even purchasing their own pair after a few drinks. That includes shot-skis, which are available to use onsite and buy to take home. Meier will also make custom shot-skis, which are popular for weddings, Kidd Eynon said.
Alongside beverages and camaraderie, Meier Skis expects to regularly host live music and eventually build a patio in a parking lot adjacent to the building. The company has previously collaborated with bands like the Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, Goose and Billy Strings on specialty designed skis, which are also on display in La Couloir.
Of course, the core of Meier Skis business won’t change with the bar opening and its tune shop will continue to offer waxes and repairs. But Kidd Eynon hopes bringing people to the factory and demystifying the production process will help raise awareness of its gear and inspire those who ski locally to also shop locally.
“Skiing is inherently a social sport,” she said. “The après is very deeply part of the culture.”
