The 5 Best Longstanding Businesses Around Summit County

Longevity in a mountain town requires more than simply keeping the doors open. Businesses weather economic cycles, changing visitor habits, new technology, shifting tastes and the steady evolution of the communities around them. Some become so familiar that their history starts to overlap with the history of Summit County itself. The Best of Summit recognizes establishments that have built lasting relationships with generations of residents, second homeowners and visitors while continuing to adapt over decades of change.

Moose Jaw

Moose Jaw has been part of downtown Frisco since 1973, giving the Main Street establishment more than half a century of local history. The bar and restaurant has maintained the straightforward character of a neighborhood gathering place, serving burgers, sandwiches and drinks in an informal setting. Its longevity spans dramatic changes in both Frisco and Summit County, from the region’s growth as a ski destination to the development that followed improved access through the Interstate 70 corridor. Through those changes, Moose Jaw has remained associated with the same Main Street community where it began.

Abbey's Coffee

Abbey’s Coffee has grown into a familiar Frisco stop by keeping its focus on coffee, food and the everyday rhythm of a neighborhood café. Its menu moves beyond brewed coffee with espresso drinks, teas, smoothies and other beverages, while breakfast and lunch choices give customers options for a longer visit or a meal on the go. Breakfast burritos, sandwiches, baked goods and other café staples accompany the drink menu. That combination has allowed Abbey’s to serve different parts of the community throughout the day, from an early coffee before work or recreation to a casual meal later on. Rather than operating as a narrowly focused coffee counter, the business has developed around the role a local café can play as a regular meeting place and a convenient stop for residents and visitors moving through Frisco.

Summit Daily News

Summit Daily News published its first issue Aug. 21, 1989, after founder Jim Pavelich launched the newspaper during a period of major technological change in the publishing industry. Early staff members still assembled pages by cutting copy, running it through a wax machine and pasting it onto boards. The paper began publishing five days a week, added a sixth issue in 1992 and became a seven-day publication by the end of 1994. Over the decades, its newsroom has chronicled growth, elections, wildfires, avalanches, transportation, housing, tourism, ski-area developments and the countless community stories that make up life in Summit County. Today, Summit Daily publishes six days a week and serves Breckenridge, Frisco, Silverthorne, Dillon and the surrounding county.

Beaver Run Resort & Conference Center

Beaver Run Resort & Conference Center grew alongside Breckenridge’s transformation into a major mountain destination. Its story reaches back to land once known as the Lake Placer mining claim and later Texas Gulch. After Breckenridge Ski Area began expanding toward Peak 9, developers recognized the property’s potential as a base-area resort. The name Beaver Run emerged from an unusual piece of local history: Beavers had built a pond and dam above the property, and a late-1960s landslide reshaped the hillside. Development planning followed in the 1970s, construction began in 1978 and the first condominium unit closed in February 1980. Additional buildings and conference facilities followed as the resort expanded. Over the years, Beaver Run added restaurants, meeting spaces and other amenities while maintaining its slope-side connection to Peak 9.

Mountain Comfort Furnishings & Design

The Jarski family and the team at Mountain Comfort Furnishings & Design have supplied mountain homes with furniture and décor since 1986. Over nearly four decades, the locally owned Frisco business has worked on projects ranging from vacation condominiums to custom homes and full residential interiors. Its operation has expanded beyond furniture sales into interior design, custom pieces, window coverings and whole-home projects, supported by relationships with a wide range of manufacturers. The showroom includes living room, dining room and bedroom furniture along with mattresses, lighting, rugs, art, accessories and other home furnishings. Mountain Comfort also emphasizes American-made products and works with local artisans while offering white-glove delivery and removal services.

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