Rick Langenberg
When it comes to award-winning sandwiches and salads, served all-day long in a picture-perfect setting, Joanie’s Deli and Bakery, located in the heart of downtown Woodland Park, prevails as the town champ.
From luring pastries, scones and breakfast burritos to gourmet clubs, chicken bacon gouda and turkey melts and BLTAs (bacon, lettuce, avocado and mayo), it is easy to see why Joanie’s has received favorable notices in area publications, often winning hands down in Best Of competitions. Plus, its comfortable dog-friendly patio and views top off the experience, making Joanie’s a must visit for area hikers, event-goers and yes, locals.
And now, the Joanie’s experience is bound to get better.
Joanie’s is expanding its catering services, which have been in place for quite a while, along with its grab-and-go options during busy times. Plus, its bakery items are often touted as some of the most under-rated food items on the mountain.
“Things are going very well,” said co-owner John Hugh, who along with fellow partner Cathy Olson, took over the operations of Joanie’s a little more than a year ago, following a visit to the Teller high Country
“We have been very busy this summer,” admitted Hugh.
This trend is expected to continue as the fall season arrives.
“We want to do a lot more catering for special groups, weddings and for special events. We can prepare just about anything for any group,” added Hugh.
And with the growth of special events in the “City Above the Clouds, Hugh, who also serves as a board member of the Downtown Development Authority, sees a big market for their catering options, with a Joanie’s twist, capped by the eatery’s popular sandwich and salad items.
This summer, Joanie’s has been bustling so much that the eatery expanded its daily hours and featured more adult beverages and special drinks and added more bakery items. The last feature is an enticement of Joanie’s that is often overlooked. The eatery features amazing, locally brewed java and special pastries, scones and cookies. This is an element of Joanie’s that is sometimes not publicized much, and is expected to increase.
Their special feature, though, is award-winning sandwiches and salads, with a plethora of 20-plus possibilities. The selections provided run the gamut from an elaborate Smoked Salmon and a French Quarter meal to a more traditional Gourmet Club and Turkey Melt. Probably the most popular sandwich items are the club, the chicken bacon gouda melt and BLTAs.
The specialty salads are also a big hit.
For more information, visit Joanie’s at their website joaniesdeli.com and at 719-686-9091.
