Windsor gets its newest restaurant for breakfast and lunch, and soon, dinner

Rick Bruening has opened a handful of Doug's Day Diner restaurants in Northern Colorado. 

But the recent opening in Windsor blew the others out of the water, Bruenig said a week after opening Doug's Day Diner at 401 Point Plaza Drive in Windsor. 

The opening broke all sales projections, he said. "We thought we'd be busy, but we were really busy and had to bring in help from Fort Collins." 

Windsor is the sixth location for Doug's Day Diner, including stores in Fort Collins and Greeley. 

The restaurant is currently open for breakfast and lunch, but Bruening said they will add dinner in a couple months. 

Doug's opens at a time when Windsor has made it a top economic priority to attract more restaurants to the town of 32,000 residents.  Windsor loses an estimated $19 million a year in sales tax revenue from people who dine out of town, according to a consultant hired by the town. Much of that revenue goes north to Fort Collins or south to Loveland, cities with robust food cultures.

Of the 56 eateries listed in the town's updated restaurant guide, two are grocery stores; 11 are breweries, wine bars or coffee shops with limited food; and 21 have counter service only — what the industry refers to as fast or fast-casual dining.

That means 39 percent of all of Windsor's food establishments are considered sit-down restaurants with full table service and wait staff. Some of those are very small, with only a handful of tables, Economic Development Director Stacy Miller said.

Miller has been working with Bruening since mid-2015 to bring Doug's Day Diner to town.

“Windsor is excited to welcome another restaurant to our town," Miller said. "We couldn’t be more thrilled they have expanded their franchise into East Point Business Park off of Main Street.” 

Windsor welcomed Doug's with open arms, Bruening said. The restaurant makes everything from scratch, "like Grandma used to make," and is a small, family-oriented community. "We like small communities where everyone knows your name and there are a lot of regulars. You can come in and be welcomed by name, you'll know your waitress and the cook."

Bruening said the menu remains the same as Fort Collins and Greeley but the restaurant is a more open concept, which makes it easier to move tables and accommodate larger parties. 

Hours are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Once dinner service begins, Doug's Day Diner will be open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. 

Pat Ferrier is a senior reporter covering business, health care and growth issues in Northern Colorado. Please support her work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by subscribing: See Coloradoan.com/subscribe to learn how.