After Nearly 30 Years Together, a Colorado Brewery and Restaurant Are Going Separate Ways
For nearly three decades, Bristol Brewing Co. and Blue Star restaurant were linked by more than proximity. The two Colorado Springs hospitality brands shared a business relationship built around beer, food, community, and a belief that local businesses could grow together. Now, that partnership is entering a new chapter as the companies move in different directions while continuing to shape the future of one of the city’s best-known gathering spaces.
The change marks the end of a long-running arrangement connected to the Ivywild neighborhood. Bristol Brewing Co. will continue expanding its role at Ivywild School, the former elementary school transformed into a mixed-use community marketplace. At the same time, Blue Star prepares to reopen its separate restaurant location on South Tejon Street after a major renovation.
The transition highlights a broader challenge facing independent hospitality businesses: even successful partnerships can eventually require restructuring as ownership, real estate needs, customer expectations, and business goals change.
A Partnership Built Around Colorado Springs Community
Bristol Brewing and Blue Star’s relationship began in the late 1990s, when both businesses operated near South Tejon Street. Blue Star owner Joe Coleman and Bristol Brewing founder Mike Bristol developed a partnership that connected a restaurant and brewery at a time when craft beer was becoming a growing part of Colorado’s food culture.
That collaboration later helped inspire one of Colorado Springs’ most ambitious adaptive reuse projects. When the former Ivywild Elementary School closed in 2009, Bristol, Coleman, and architect Jim Fennell worked together to transform the historic building into a community-centered destination. The partnership purchased the building in 2012 and converted it into Ivywild School, which opened in 2013 with a brewery, pub, bakery, coffee and cocktail bar, food concepts, event space, and other local businesses.
The project became an example of how an old building could be repurposed into a neighborhood gathering place instead of being replaced. The former school retained its identity while becoming a destination for dining, drinks, events, and local businesses.
Changing Ownership and New Directions
The next phase of Ivywild comes as Bristol Brewing takes full ownership of the property and several operations previously associated with Blue Star. Mike and Amanda Bristol are assuming control of Ivywild School, while Joe Coleman’s Blue Star restaurant moves forward independently at its South Tejon Street location.
The shift is being described as a separation of business paths rather than a breakdown of the relationship. After years of working together, the two companies are focusing on their own concepts while maintaining the legacy they helped create.
For Bristol Brewing, the change provides an opportunity to continue developing Ivywild School as a unified destination. The company plans to refresh several food and beverage offerings while keeping many familiar elements that have made the location popular with longtime customers.
For Blue Star, the focus is on rebuilding its original restaurant experience after a lengthy closure. The restaurant closed in 2017, and its planned return has taken longer than expected because of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic and economic challenges. A major remodel at the South Tejon Street location has moved the project closer to reopening.
Reimagining Ivywild School
The future of Ivywild School will involve both preservation and change. Bristol Brewing plans to keep many popular businesses and introduce new concepts designed around creating a more connected customer experience.
Existing favorites, including Bristol Brewing’s pub, Axe and The Oak Distillery, Salad or Bust, and other independent businesses, are expected to continue operating. Some Blue Star-related concepts are being adjusted, relocated, or replaced as Bristol reshapes the marketplace.
One major change will be a new approach to dining. Instead of customers making separate purchases at different counters, Ivywild plans to introduce a more streamlined system that lets visitors experience multiple food and drink options more easily. The goal is to make the space feel less like separate businesses operating under one roof and more like one connected community destination.
New concepts are also planned, including The Restless Chef, a restaurant concept featuring a changing menu inspired by different culinary regions. The idea reflects a growing trend among independent restaurants to offer flexible menus and experiences that encourage repeat visits.
Blue Star’s Return After a Long Pause
While Bristol focuses on Ivywild’s next era, Blue Star is preparing for its own revival. The restaurant’s return is expected to bring back a familiar Colorado Springs name with a redesigned interior and updated layout.
The renovated restaurant will feature a single dining concept rather than the previous divided layout, with a dining room and bar area designed to create a more unified experience. The goal is to preserve the character that made Blue Star a longtime local favorite while updating the space for current customers.
The reopening represents more than a construction project. For many longtime customers, Blue Star’s return represents the revival of a restaurant that played an important role in the city’s dining scene for decades.
What This Means for Hospitality Partnerships
The Bristol and Blue Star transition reflects a reality of modern hospitality: partnerships that begin with shared goals often need to evolve as businesses mature.
The traditional model of a brewery and restaurant operating together has become common across the country, especially as craft breweries have become gathering spaces rather than simply production facilities. However, these partnerships can become complicated when companies have different growth strategies, ownership structures, or real estate needs.
Successful hospitality collaborations require more than a popular concept. They depend on clear agreements, shared expectations, and the ability to adapt when circumstances change.
In the case of Bristol Brewing and Blue Star, the separation does not erase the impact of their partnership. Together, they helped transform a closed school into a community destination and demonstrated how local businesses can contribute to neighborhood revitalization.
A New Chapter for Two Colorado Brands
After almost 30 years of working together, Bristol Brewing and Blue Star are moving into separate chapters. Bristol will continue building on the Ivywild School vision, while Blue Star prepares to bring its restaurant back to South Tejon Street.
For customers, the changes may bring uncertainty, but they also create opportunities for new experiences. The story of these two businesses shows that even long-standing partnerships can evolve while preserving the history and community connections that made them successful in the first place.
