Beau Jo’s

Perhaps Colorado’s most iconic pie was born more than 50 years ago in a 15-seat pizza shop in Idaho Springs. Founder Chip Bair created the “Colorado-style mountain pie” in the 1970s by hand-rolling crusts so his pies could hold more stuff, turning them into a meal for four. Beau Jo’s was among the first pizzerias in the country to offer a whole wheat crust, and used honey instead of sugar in his dough. Bair’s legend grew in 2023 when he attempted to sell his pizza empire — now with locations in Arvada, Denver Evergreen, Fort Collins, Lone Tree and Steamboat Springs — to his employees, on the 50th anniversary of his start in Idaho Springs.