Castle View Cafe: Carving Out Its Place in the Castle Rock Cafe Competition
- spencedrob
- Sep 9
- 3 min read
Previously, owner Tom Wurtz had partial experience competing in the food market, having only learned what it takes to succeed by owning small businesses of his own between Fort Collins and Pueblo, Colorado. He tells me, “I got my restaurant background from the fast casual business Bruegger’s Bagels. I was a franchisee and area developer for fourteen of its stores.” However, for Tom, that was short-lived, and life’s natural progression pulled him into the position of Senior Director at Verizon, where he happily worked for the next 28 years. It wasn’t until recently that Tom considered moving away from Verizon, and a lucrative severance package helped him make a decision.
Like most people, after receiving a severance package, taking a break would be a top priority, but not for Tom, who hated not being busy. He quickly decided to buy his first cafe, named The Stone Gate Cafe, in Parker, Colorado, on April 1st.
Quickly, being the new owner, Tom worked incredibly hard. Displaying integrity, stepping into the same role as his coworkers. He had no problem stepping up into a leadership role, even though previous owners decided to be more absent. In our interview, he mentioned, “Thankfully, in the transition of owners, I didn’t lose any staff. As the new owner, I wanted my co-workers to know I had their support. I’d bus tables, work in the back. Nothing I asked my workers, I wouldn’t do myself.” Following this decision, Tom realized the stream of revenue was a “money-making machine,” which provided sufficient funds to his family, so he looked to replicate it closer to home.
Tom searched around Castle Rock, Colorado, looking for a similar feel to the Stone Gate Cafe. He signed his name to a 16,500 square-foot space downtown on July 1st, naming it the Castle View Cafe. “I wanted it to be a breakfast and lunch place, only taking thirty days to replicate the Stone Gate’s business model,” Tom says.
Being inside the Castle View Cafe is a simple yet effective experience. The menu and building layout are all to Tom’s liking, while benefiting customers with comfortable furniture and friendly staff. “Everything is the same in my cafes besides the name. I transitioned a liquor license into the Castle View Cafe, allowing us to experiment with brunch cocktails for people of all ages,” Tom states.
Nowadays, Tom splits his time between each cafe, working every day, wanting what’s best for his customers, and ensuring they are all satisfied. One thing he mentions that helps him connect with the community is interacting with the Google and Tripadvisor reviews. Tom explains, “It’s hard not to look at the reviews and see what people are thinking. I think it’s important to respond to everybody myself, thanking them, answering questions, or addressing concerns to me or my staff.” That same level of care Tom gives, extends to the staff as well, encouraging them to “get to know the place,” he says, beyond who they’re helping. He wants his staff to enhance their product knowledge, eat every dish on the menu, and learning how things run in the cafe. The Castle View Cafe stands tall against its local breakfast and lunch competition. “In five to ten years, I want to expand to bedroom communities, looking for places in Littleton or Centennial, Colorado,” Tom says. He knows the risks, but what’s more important to him is looking ahead towards the future.
Huge thank you to Tom Wurtz for taking the time to interview me! Please, if you’re in the downtown Castle Rock, Colorado area, visit the Castle View Cafe, open every day from 7 am to 2 pm, or The Stone Gate Cafe in Parker, Colorado.
Castle View Cafe
611 Wilcox St, Ste A, Castle Rock, CO 80104
Stone Gate Cafe
16524 Keystone Blvd, Parker, CO 80134
S.R.
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