Kennebec Café and Bakery adds “events center” to its moniker

DURANGO, Colo. – It was a risk, but Barbara Helmer and Miguel Carrillo had a vision – create a unique, “destination” restaurant and events center that would be a “taste of Tuscany” in the Four Corners region.

Folks know it today as Kennebec Café and Bakery. Going forward, however, it likely will also be known as a preferred site for weddings, office parties, family reunions, special events and more, as the ambitious chef/owners have launched the first phase of Kennebec’s event center.

Opened originally on March 2, 2000, Kennebec Café replaced the funky, and some would say eye-sore diner and motel known as Chip’s Place, 10 miles west of Durango at the corner of Hwy 160 and CR 124. The first phase included the 2,400 square foot restaurant that did and continues to specialize in fine Mediterranean cuisine with a splash of Mexican (a nod to Carrillo’s heritage). Helmer, long a familiar face in Durango’s food service industry, also furthered her catering operation, originally known as Anything Goes.

“We took a baby step opening the restaurant,” said Helmer, noting that “The Bates Motel” buildings were either torn down or remodeled to become the restaurant office, storage and owner and employee housing. “The restaurant has done well, so we decided to expand.”

Little did Helmer and Carrillo know as they launched the expansion, that the region would experience one of the harshest winters in a decade. Before the damaging snows of January 2008, the pair committed to move forward and began the groundwork for an additional 2,400 square feet of dining and kitchen space.

“Once we committed to digging the hole, then we had to keep the hole cleared,” said Helmer. “We tarped it and shoveled snow off of it every day. We couldn’t let the snow turn to ice.”

The extra effort was worth it however, as by summer Kennebec Café was able to host its first wedding – in addition to continuing its service to a growing cadre of local patrons.

Situated at the entrance to La Plata Canyon, near the La Plata River, Kennebec Café enjoys dramatic views of the La Plata Mountains and the pass from which the restaurant derives its name. Indeed, the forest setting was one inspiration for the event center.

The café’s original dining room, designed to be reminiscent of contemporary Italy, features large picture windows that capture the mountain views. The new dining areas take the whole concept a step further.

At the rear of the original dining room, glass-inlaid doors open onto a large room replete with fireplace and two walls of windows. For intimacy or a small party, the room also includes a private alcove.

An additional set of glass-inlaid doors leads to a third dining area, suited to seat about 25 maximum, and designed for special wine dinners, meetings and more. This room also includes a reception area and separate entrance, and opens up onto the new patio/courtyard. The entire configuration allows tremendous flexibility in event planning.

“We also doubled the size of the kitchen,” said Helmer, explaining that the facility now essentially has two. “The kitchen now allows me to have our regular restaurant menu ready but at the same time have a party in one or two of these banquet rooms, and I can leave here with food for an off-site catering event.”

Both new banquet areas enjoy direct kitchen access, plus their own restrooms. When necessary, Kennebec can become two fully-functional and separate facilities, and Helmer designed it that way. She intends to always cater to her regular restaurant patrons no matter what event (or events) may be occurring elsewhere on the property.

“It took us a couple of weeks to get a grip on the additional space,” admitted Helmer, who often works the front of the house, welcoming guests. “Before, when we only had the one room, I could see everything at all times, and in the new space, I found I lost people. They just disappeared into the new space and I couldn’t tell if they’d been waited on or not. So we’ve added another floor person to circulate more and make sure everyone is taken care of.”

Kennebec has already booked numerous holiday parties, and will offer Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve dinners, as well as New Year’s Eve dinner and New Year’s Day brunch.

Helmer is also easing into restaurant-sponsored events. Currently, the first Wednesday of the month features a wine dinner, pairing foods and wines from a specific country. She’s also looking forward to themed “dinner and a movie” nights featuring, for example, a Moroccan menu followed by a screening of “Casablanca.” 

Originally Kennebec Café was set up as, in part, a breakfast venue, which showcased an array of Helmer’s popular baked goods. Today a Kennebec version of brunch is served only Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., including a wide variety of both breakfast and lunch entrees. The focus has turned to lunch and dinner, and with that has come the need for an expanded waiting area or bar.

“We’re losing so many customers in the summer who come in and we’ve had no room for them to wait,” said Helmer. “We want to seat them somewhere and offer them a cocktail, plus we’ve heard from a lot of single people who would like to eat at the bar where they can talk to a bartender and not stare at the walls.”

Though the two-top tables near the entry have already been reserved for those waiting for a regular table, the entry area and desk will be transformed into a small bar, likely to seat about eight comfortably.

Helmer also plans to finish off the landscaping in early spring, in preparation for the many weddings and rehearsal dinners already on the books. Though Kennebec’s business increased 30 percent in 2008, given the current economy and cost of construction, that may be it for a while, as Helmer has no desire to raise menu prices.

“I have many, many plans,” she said, noting that she hopes to build a small marketplace to showcase local produce and gourmet items and stock staples for the residents in the area. “We’ll see. It’ll depend how things go through the winter.”

Learn more about Kennebec Café – menus, events and catering opportunities – and keep current on new activities, at www.kennebeccafe.com. 

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