The city of Denver’s preferred choice to lead concessions at Lookout Mountain is partnering with a local restaurant chain known for its fry bread tacos piled with bison and Native American corn.
Though the full extent of its influence is unclear, Tocabe, An American Indian Eatery is working with ExplorUS, a concessionaire based in parks across the country, to take over the retail and food services at the mountain, Denver Mountain Parks Director Shannon Dennison said Wednesday.
Tocabe’s potential involvement is part of the city’s rethinking of Lookout Mountain and its Buffalo Bill-themed attractions so that they include the perspectives of Native American people. The mountain parks department last year sought proposals for vendors selling indigenous foods and goods and selected ExplorUS and Tocabe among three applicants to assume the post.
“We’re very, very excited to have Tocabe up there in whatever form that ExplorUS and Tocabe come to an agreement on,” Dennison told city council members during a parks, art and culture subcommittee meeting this week. The committee members present approved the contract, which is expected to land on the mayor’s desk later this month.
Tocabe co-founder Ben Jacobs confirmed the deliberations surrounding the Lookout Mountain concession location but declined to comment by text message Friday. ExplorUS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
While Tocabe could be involved in anything from deciding the food menu to helping source ingredients, ExplorUS would also be in charge of operating a retail area that was previously run by a single family for decades.
The city’s contract with ExplorUS would guarantee the company pay $397,000 to improve the property, known as the Pahaska building and dating back to 1921. More than half of that money would go toward fixing the kitchen, Dennison told the parks subcommittee. The rest would go toward upgrading displays and service technology.
A percentage of monthly sales revenue would go to the city, including for capital improvements. The top floor and basement of the building, once used to house workers and the resident operator, will be inaccessible, Dennison said.
Repairs could begin in May following the city council and mayor’s approval of the contract. The retail shop could reopen, followed by the concessions, in June and July, Dennison said.
Whatever changes are proposed to the building would need to be approved by the city as part of the contract. That would include the potential use of Tocabe’s branding or color scheme, Dennison said.
A 2009 Denver Post piece about Tocabe’s opening in north Denver (3536 W. 44th Ave.) identified Jacobs as being a member of the Osage tribe through his mother’s side. He and his co-owner, Matt Chandra, also provide catering and run an online market.
ExplorUS has run shops and concessions in Colossal Cave Mountain Park outside of Tucson, Ariz.; Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico; and White Sands National Park, also in New Mexico.
Lookout Mountain and the Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave have remained open despite the lack of concessions. Half a million people visit the destination every year, Dennison said.
