Rex’s Family of Restaurants Is Both Inspired By and Happy to Give Back to Steamboat Springs
As a destination location for gastro-types, Steamboat Springs has no shortage of restaurants for every palate and preference.
This has led to the development of a deep foodie culture that brings the community together at culinary establishments throughout the area.
Among the fine and casual dining options which Steamboat Springs offers, few are as well known as “Rex’s Family of Restaurants,” which was founded by owner Rex Brice.
Brice arrived in Steamboat in 1993 to live in the mountains of Colorado and to enjoy the lifestyle that the area offers. He worked in several restaurants in the city before opening a coffee shop on the mountain called “Jitters”.
His first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Steamboat Springs was Mazzola’s, which he purchased in 2004. From there, he continued to open restaurants periodically.
“I knew all along that I wanted to own multiple restaurants because the restaurant business is tough,” said Brice. “I knew that I needed to create success for more than just myself. I wanted to also create success for other people in order to really live the life that I wanted to live.”
Brice’s restaurants now include Mazzola’s, Big House Burgers, Laundry, Creekside, Salt & Lime and Lil’ House.
Courtesy Photo/Rex Brice
His drive to continue establishing restaurants is the result of his quest to find just the right opportunities to open unique restaurants in perfect locations. His gradual expansion has also allowed Brice “hone his skills” while focusing on what the Yampa Valley diners are really looking for.
Before coming to Steamboat, Brice has worked in some of the most notable fine dining restaurants in the world. The “pomp and circumstance” behind such establishments, which was something that he “did not love” caused Brice to open restaurants that focused on high-quality, casual dining.
“In 1993, when I moved to Steamboat, there weren’t a lot of great restaurants,” said Brice. “It was a tough town to be in the restaurant business. The seasonality was a lot more significant than it was today and that made it a really tough business. I saw that as an opportunity.”
As Brice expanded his locations, he ensured his, and his staff’s, success through diversification based on the specific needs of Steamboat Springs.
“We needed to have restaurants that satisfied the multiple needs of the community,” he said. “We were looking for locations and developing concepts to meet [those needs].”
The “we” is a team that Brice has put together over the years, which now includes his core executive team as well as his wife, Bettina Neset.
As he opened what became known as “Rex’s Family of Restaurants”, Brice knew that he couldn’t do it alone, which in turn led to the development of a core “family” of staff members. One unique facet of Brice’s business is a focus on the specific needs of the employees, whether that is helping them with career advancement or building a work schedule that is based on the Steamboat Springs bus schedule or other jobs.
“We have had people who have been with us for 20 years. The percentage of employees that have been with the company for more than five or ten years is significant,” he said. “We want people in our organization to enjoy fulfillment and success in their lives by supporting them. That’s what really makes me happy.”
Brice has also used the success of his organization to give back to the community that has sustained him, and his employees, over the years. This involves understanding the needs of his staff, and by extension, the community, and focusing philanthropic efforts on specific areas where it is needed.
As a result, Brice and his organization have continually given back to the Yampa Valley community. From hurricane relief to supporting mental health, the extensive list of organizations and nonprofits which Rex’s Family of Restaurants assists grows annually.
“We have been so lucky to be a part of this community and really fortunate in the way that the community has supported us,” said Brice. “Giving back to our community is such an important part of what we do and who we are.”
In October, Steamboat Locals’ writer John Camponeschi will be presenting you a four-part series of stories about the culinary arts in Routt County and the people who continually push the boundaries of our local offerings.
Read: Steamboat Food & Wine Mentorship Program Supports Hospitality Industry
Read: Meat Bar – Centered on Community
This series of stories is proudly presented to you by Jon Wade and The Steamboat Group as a continuation of their commitment to “Keep Steamboat Special” by supporting non-profits and events that promote a healthy Steamboat lifestyle! You can also support their efforts simply by making a request on the Steamboat Locals Choice for Music. For every song request made in the month of October, The Steamboat Group will donate $2 to LiftUp, up to $500 total!