Navajo Hogan

If you’ve spent any time in Colorado Springs, you’re familiar with Navajo Hogan’s on North Nevada. The huge neon sign in the form of an Indian (American, not Asian) and the unique bee-hive shapes of the building – not to mention all the motorcycles parked there most weekends – it’s really an icon here in the “Springs”!  If nothing else, you need to go there just to see the building from the inside – it’s on the National Historic Register and it’s really is a marvel. Built by Nicholal Fontecchio in 1935 to resemble a hogan (and complete with the Broadmoor for evening entertainment in Colorado Springs), the ceiling domes are pieced together with no nails – in a bee-hive or “hogan” shape. Navajo Hogan’s has been a bar, strip club, restaurant, dance club, biker bar, etc, but maybe now that Johnny Nolan is involved (that’s Johnny of Southside Johnny’s, a great local pub on South Tejon), the old place may be able to really stabilize into a successful North End hangout – and not just for the biker crowd.

Anyway – we ate there the other night with the Mensa group and it was very nice. Roomy; accommodating (as we kept adding people); service was very good (no problem with separate checks); there were about 10 different beers on tap; and my burger was really good. (For those that don’t know me, I rarely eat hamburgers – but when I do, I usually enjoy them!) I had the bacon blue cheese burger with sweet potato fries (extra for the SPFs). Other orders around the table were the Philly steak sandwich and different salads, not to mention other variations of burgers and fries.  Everybody was satisfied with their meals and prices were reasonable.

When we left, we lingered by the front door to read the history plaque posted there and a man approached us, obviously associated with the restaurant, and asked how our meals were. He didn’t introduce himself, but I think it may have been Johnny or at least the manager of the “new” Navajo Hogan’s, anyway – he seemed genuinely concerned about our answers. He confessed that his cook was new and was having some troubles getting the burgers just right – but we assured him everything had turned out fine. As long as Navajo Hogan’s staff shows this same personal concern and service remains good (as does the food), Navajo Hogan’s will once again be an iconic (and good)  place to take visitors … or just grab a beer and a burger!  We'll add this to the Do Again list!