EagleVail Welcomes New Little Bear Cafe

The sun rises over the EagleVail neighborhood, casting a warm glow over the residential area. As you drive into the eastern end of EagleVail, you'll notice a beautifully renovated building on the south side of the highway - the new Alpinist workspace building, home to the Little Bear Cafe. Vidette Gehl, owner of Vail's Big Bear Bistro, has brought her culinary expertise to this new location, with plans to make it the go-to neighborhood eatery.

"Everybody wants a neighborhood restaurant," Gehl said, explaining her decision to open a second location. She has a personal connection to the area, having lived in EagleVail with her husband Mike when they first moved to the valley. Although they now reside in Avon, Gehl still has many friends in EagleVail and sees the potential for a community-driven eatery. As she puts it, "I love EagleVail... and I have a lot of friends who live in EagleVail still."

Gehl's experience with Big Bear Bistro has taught her the importance of adapting to the local community's needs. She acknowledges that EagleVail is one of the last up-valley refuges for locals, many of whom want convenient options for breakfast, lunch, or a quick evening drink. The cafe aims to fill this gap, with plans to stay open past 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. "People are like, 'We don't want to drive into Vail and pay for parking now that they've started charging for parking in the summer,'" Gehl explained. With the golf course, pool, and tennis courts nearby, she believes the outdoor patio will be a hit, especially during the summer months.

The numbers back up Gehl's optimism - the location in the Alpinist building offers a unique opportunity for hosting events. "We're trying to do a lot of events," Gehl said, citing a company's end-of-season party scheduled to take place at the cafe. "We want this to be a place where people can come and enjoy each other's company," Gehl said, citing a knitting group that has already met there. Gehl plans to introduce Mahjong games and other activities to attract a variety of groups.

The menu will feature many of the same fresh, locally sourced ingredients that have made Big Bear Bistro a success. However, Gehl has also brought in new talent - Marty Odom, the former manager of Big Bear Bistro, and his wife Lauren. The couple worked at Big Bear when it first opened in 2008 and has returned to help Gehl launch the new venture. "I kept them in the back of my mind, and I called them up when I was going to do this and said, 'Would you be interested?'" Gehl recalled.

As the cafe settles into its new home, Gehl is focused on creating a welcoming atmosphere that will appeal to both locals and visitors. Gehl's enthusiasm and experience suggest a promising start, and her plans for the cafe's future are already taking shape. The cafe's beautiful patio and commitment to local events are certainly a promising development. As Gehl looks to the future, she remains optimistic about the potential: "I think this is really going to rock it."