A new eatery opened in Woodland Park over Independence Day weekend, bringing new flavor to a beloved concept in the City Above the Clouds.

The Woodland Social, located at 110 W. Midland Ave., offered food, drink and live music during its opening weekend, much like its predecessor 110 Reserve did during its time.

Under 110 Reserve’s ownership, the restaurant served as a popular meeting spot for many locals and passersby alike, thanks to the space’s large outdoor patio visible along the town’s main drag. And that’s exactly what drew husband and wife team Levi and Miranda Kleeb to make it the hub for their next restauranteering adventure.

“The view is incredible,” Miranda said. “Just the whole vibe, the whole atmosphere of it was something that really made us inquire further.”

Within two weeks of signing a lease, the Kleebs were setting down drinks and grub for their first customers.

Despite the compact schedule, operating a business in the food service industry was not foreign to the pair, who also own and operate The Salty Cow, a food truck that serves and caters at events in southern Colorado, as well as Red Beard Coffee Company, a coffee and bagel shop in Pueblo West near the couple’s home.

Originally seeking to broaden their coffee presence further north, the Kleebs stumbled upon 110 W. Midland Ave. From there, the vision quickly transformed into a mashup of a morning coffee shop and an afternoon or evening hangout spot similar to 110 Reserve’s legacy, featuring staple menu items from The Salty Cow food truck.

Some of those staples include beer mac and cheese served with pulled pork or chicken and nachos with the choice of birria, pulled pork or chicken, as well as the vegetarian and gluten-free option of elote. 

Other items from The Woodland Social’s soft opening menu include burgers, such as a pimento bacon cheeseburger, and desserts, such as their four-layer chocolate cake.

The Kleebs plan to expand the menu to offer salads, more starter choices and possibly pizzas. But first, Miranda said hiring for the restaurant must ramp up to be able to meet table demand. She said hiring has already been more challenging in a mountain town.

“At the coffee shop we post an ad and we get hundreds of applicants within the first day,” Miranda said. “But here, it’s been a little different.”

Currently, the Kleebs have two staff members in addition to themselves. Miranda said she hopes to bring on six or seven more employees before extending operational hours.

During its soft opening, the Kleebs intend to run the restaurant from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with hours anticipated to extend three hours earlier as they get a feel for the community.

“We’re adjusting as we go,” Miranda said. “We’re hoping to be open seven days a week.”

Although for now, the restaurant will likely be closed on Mondays and/or Tuesdays, Miranda said.

Once hours increase, so will morning offerings, to include light breakfast food and the same Westcliffe roasted coffee the Kleebs serve at their Pueblo West location.

As the hours add to the couple’s already long commute, they also plan to add a small house into the mix to lessen the burden of their long days. After all, what could be better than living and working in the type of place you dream about vacationing?

“When we vacation, we always find ourselves drawn to places like this,” Miranda said. “We were looking for stuff we enjoy, and that seemed to be a gathering place for people, so we could bring that gathering place into our space.”