The Rio Grande

by jashtracey | Apr 20, 2023

RIO GRANDE

MEXICAN RESTAURANT. BOULDER, COLORADO

Here at GNT Branding, our creativity horde of brand-strategy ninja poets use data-driven Jedi mind control problem-solving techniques to identify and articulate digital value propositioning, while simultaneously disrupting collaborative idea-generation through a process of creative chaos which allows us to transform stories into robust audience experiences that bring our client’s vision into the appropriate ethnographic landscape.

3 MARG LIMIT

– BUT IT COULDN’T HURT TO ASK FOR THAT FOURTH –

Some caliente hot sauce label designs for the saucy caballeros at my old bartending gig.

Love these guys, you will too. They might reconsider their famous three margarita limit if you mention my name… Actually, that’ll probably only get you one. Salud!

FROM THE RIO: “We care about black beans. Seriously, we really do. That’s how the Rio all started. Back around 1986, before handlebar mustaches, sleeve tattoos, and VanLife hashtags were a thing, three hippie brothers from Texas packed up their van (#VanLife), and hopped around Mexico for a while. It was the combination of the good people cooking delicious black beans down there, and the good people with a craving for something different up here, that sparked everything the Rio stands for today.

Black beans not being a crop in Colorado, the brothers brought seeds to a farm in Longmont, and together everything grew from there. Shortly after, the Rio served the first fajita in the Rocky Mountain State. That was a cool day. So yeah, black beans are pretty special to us. Maybe a little too special, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Fajitas, we consider them like you would a first-born child. No pressure, right? Our endless pursuit of the perfect plate of nachos is something we’ll always lose sleep over.

Let us know what you think of our new take on them. And, if a day ever comes where we don’t make fresh salsa and fresh tortillas at the start of every shift, that’s the day we close our doors. Locally-sourced is what we were founded on long before everyone was at the farmer’s market. Because there are no shortcuts (we even fired a guy who said he could make the beans quicker). That long, simple, delicious, journey through Mexico lives on in every dish we have and will ever make. At the same time, our eyes are peeled for the next inspiration to strike on another wild adventure. So, pull up a chair. Lower your guard. Enjoy some damn good TexMex with some damn good people. The only thing you can’t put a fork in is us because we’ll never be done.”

BACK TO DESIGN PAGE

NEED SOMETHING DESIGNED?

WE GOT YOU.

West End Tavern

by jashtracey | Apr 2, 2023

W.E.T.

YOU CAN’T SPELL WEST END TAVERN WITHOUT G.I.N. DON’T THINK, JUST GO WITH IT

Here at GNT Branding, our creativity horde of brand-strategy ninja poets use data-driven Jedi mind control problem-solving techniques to identify and articulate digital value propositioning, while simultaneously disrupting collaborative idea-generation through a process of creative chaos which allows us to transform stories into robust audience experiences that bring our client’s vision into the appropriate ethnographic landscape.

WST END TVRN

– JUST WALK TOWARDS THE FLATIRONS –

APPAREL

AUTHENTICALLY COLORADO

Though no one knows the exact date this building was erected, town records date it back as far as 1906, when it housed Boulder’s Police Station. The Station’s next-door neighbor at the time was, fittingly, a house of ‘ill repute’ (four red velvet clad rooms were discovered in the basement next door, under what is now Jax Fish House, during construction in 1987).

In the 1950’s, the building was home to the Spaghetti Factory, a family owned Italian eatery. Next, The Red Cross took residence, until the City Council observed that the building was in the floodplain. The Council felt that it would be bad form to send rescue boats to the Red Cross during a flood. The Red Cross quickly made a move to higher and drier ground. In 1987, Steve “Beaver” Goren and Marc “Minnie” Minion opened the original West End Tavern. In doing so, they not only named, but gave birth to Boulder’s thriving ‘West End’ retail district. The partners purchased the big, old, beautiful bar from Miss Kittie’s Saloon in Bayaud, Nebraska, stopping point on the original Oregon Trail. Miss Kittie herself sold them the bar and told them, based on expert calculations & the design, its likely birthplace was Omaha, Nebraska, in the late 1800’s.

Our furniture is a by-product of the 2002 Hayman fire, which destroyed over 70,000 acres of local old growth pine forest. Some of the biggest trees killed in that fire were salvaged to create the tables you see in our dining room today. There’s a lot of history in this old place, and plenty more in the making.

CHECK THEM OUT HERE

BACK TO APPAREL PAGE

NEED SOME APPAREL DESIGNED?

WE GOT YOU.

SAVORY CUISINES CATERING

by jashtracey | Apr 1, 2023

Here at GNT Branding, our creativity horde of brand-strategy ninja poets use data-driven Jedi mind control problem-solving techniques to identify and articulate digital value propositioning, while simultaneously disrupting collaborative idea-generation through a process of creative chaos which allows us to transform stories into robust audience experiences that bring our client’s vision into the appropriate ethnographic landscape.

APPAREL

SAVORY CUISINES CATERING LOGO

Great people that make great food. The owner Bob wanted to a refresh to their old brand, so he and I developed this logo design about a year ago. Two or three rounds of revisions landed us on this guy! I think it came out really nice. Not too divergent from their original look, but distinctive enough to stand on its own chicken legs. In the need for a great catering company? They’re Boulder’s best! Check them out here.

ABOUT SAVORY CUISINES CATERING

Food often plays an important role in social events and there is definitely a lot of skill required in making it as beautiful and delicious as possible. Consequently, if you are looking for a professional Boulder catering company with an excellent reputation for their service and their food, look no further than Savory Cuisines. Catering to both the Denver and Boulder areas, Savory Cuisines is dedicated to making the best food available by using the freshest and most flavorful ingredients available.

CHECK THEM OUT HERE

BACK TO APPAREL PAGE

NEED SOME APPAREL DESIGNED?

WE GOT YOU.

Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom

by jashtracey | Apr 1, 2023

OLD C’S

PIZZA, BEER & THEY HAVE GIN TOO OBVI DUH K BYE

Here at GNT Branding, our creativity horde of brand-strategy ninja poets use data-driven Jedi mind control problem-solving techniques to identify and articulate digital value propositioning, while simultaneously disrupting collaborative idea-generation through a process of creative chaos which allows us to transform stories into robust audience experiences that bring our client’s vision into the appropriate ethnographic landscape.

ZAH DZNS

– CHICAGO STYLE –

APPAREL

JUST A FEW T-SHIRT DESIGNS I MADE FOR SOME HOLIDAY MINI-TOURS THESE GUYS CATERED OVER THE YEARS. DRINK EM UP!

BACK TO APPAREL PAGE

NEED SOME APPAREL DESIGNED?

WE GOT YOU.

FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN RESTAURANT

by jashtracey | Mar 17, 2023

Here at GNT Branding, our creativity horde of brand-strategy ninja poets use data-driven Jedi mind control problem-solving techniques to identify and articulate digital value propositioning, while simultaneously disrupting collaborative idea-generation through a process of creative chaos which allows us to transform stories into robust audience experiences that bring our client’s vision into the appropriate ethnographic landscape.

FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN RESTAURANT

THE FRESHEST FIRE THIS SIDE OF BUFFALO

APPAREL

Fire On The Mountain Restaurant

Next time you’re in the neighborhood go ahead and swing by Fire On The Mountain for the best buffalo wings in Denver! And while you’re in there, check out some of the merchandise I’ve designed for these Grateful Dead superfans over the years! Great people, amazing food and some killer threads. You can’t lose!

FROM THEIR WEBSITE: We are the hardest working team of wing-slingers in the business! Come visit our friendly crew. The Freshest, Highest Quality Ingredients.

We are proud to serve hormone-free, antibiotic free, cage-free Redbird Farms chicken that is never frozen. We believe fresh, happy chicken makes all the difference, and think you will too! We fry our wings in 100% trans-fat free oil until they are hot and crispy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. Then we toss them in one of our twelve delicious sauces with a side of homemade ranch or chunky bleu cheese. But, we’re not just famous for our wings.

Try a Colorado grass fed burger, homemade vegan wings, awesome salads…the list goes on. Our chilli, queso, and soups are all homemade. Our fries are hand-cut. Our bacon is the thickest we can find. We hand batter every fried pickle, mozzarella wheel, and onion ring. We use locally-grown produce whenever possible as well as awesome ciabatta and brioche from City Bakery right down the street. Taste all that love!