More Than A Restaurant

A smash burger bar located in the historic train depot, Brakeman’s Burgers is as atmospheric as it is deeply rooted in Colorado Springs’ legacy. Sitting on the old train tracks that used to run through the city, the dining area has been repurposed from the foundational platform. History is ingrained in every fiber of the restaurant, from the photos that line the walls to the name itself—dedicated to the daring brakemen who used to leap from car to car, braving the elements, to manually slow down trains.

Restaurateur Aaron Ewton sits at the bar, watching guests enjoy their conversations as they drink beer and sample the array of wagyu smash burgers on the menu. A family is playing with a little toy train set that sits as a centerpiece on one of the tables. In the back booth, a group of friends begin to holler as the bell rings and a train passes, signaling the opportunity to get a celebratory $2 pickle juice “Train Shot.”

“In this space, it’s easy to think about once upon a time,” Aaron said, observing those around him. “You could romanticize all the possible stories that once happened here—families being reunited, someone greeting a lover or saying goodbye, or sending the boys off to battle. There’s a richness to this space.”

The historic location originally had been preserved and converted by the Ochs family into Guiseppie’s Italian Restaurant in the 1970s, which eventually closed its doors in 2011. Since then, the space has been used for events and was repurposed for restaurants again in the past few years.

After an initial refresh in 2023, Brakeman’s Burgers officially launched in the depot on October 15, 2024, the date of Aaron’s daughter and late brother’s birthdays, as an addition to Aaron’s restaurant family under Atlas Restaurant Group.

“We wanted to take away some of the formality and make the space feel as welcoming as we can,” Aaron said about the relaunch. “The idea was to mix the old with the new.”

Creating a fresh, unique space in town is nothing new for Aaron. From Oklahoma and South Texas originally, Aaron moved to downtown Colorado Springs 15 years ago. He felt drawn to Colorado Springs’ welcoming environment and fell in love with the city. The more he explored the food and beverage scene and made connections, he quickly realized that he wanted to play a more active part in the developing restaurant scene.

“I felt like my soul was coming alive, being in service,” he said. “I hope that everyone has that opportunity to feel like they are a contributor in their community, not just a consumer. That’s what led to the itch of wanting to participate in a greater way.”

Since then, Aaron has quickly built his own legacy in the city through the creation of notable eateries like Pig Latin Cocina, C.O.A.T.I., and Ola Juice Bar. In each of his restaurants, he wants to cultivate an environment of inclusive community, quality food, and novelty, creating spaces that are exciting and different from more traditional restaurant experiences. “I view my role in the community as someone who’s bringing some new looks and maybe some new ways of doing things,” Aaron explained. “I’m relatively ambitious, and I have a great want for the community I’m in and a desire to make as much positive impact and opportunity as I can for others.”

Traveling to other cities for inspiration, Aaron often comes back with new ideas for restaurants, recipes, or ways that he can continue to grow. A self-proclaimed “gas pedal,” Aaron considers his role as a go button to make things happen, and he’s grateful to have been surrounded by talented, passionate people who have helped make each restaurant’s vision come to life.

“I’ve always been a champion for growth,” Aaron said. “I think that it’s true—the saying that if you aren’t growing, you’re dying. And I see that in our city. We have a hunger for growth.”

Aaron has brought this attitude of progress to his recent endeavor with Brakeman’s Burgers. With the refreshed launch of the restaurant, Aaron and his team have redesigned the space to be more efficient and community-oriented, while bringing fresh, new menu flavors that emphasize quality. From the kitchen of Chef Ben Hoffer, the culinary director for Atlas Restaurant Group, and Chef Colin Waller, there is deep care and thought into the product selection, from sourcing sustainable wagyu beef to buying local buns from the Denver area.

The result? Unique smash burgers that are the intersection of price, value, and quality, slathered in Brakeman’s signature 1942 sauce—the sauce’s name a nod to the year that the last train came through the station. “My hope is that the Brakeman’s value offers something greater to the community beyond the simplicity of selling a burger,” Aaron said. The identity of Brakeman’s Burgers is rooted in history, in the stories that make Colorado Springs the vibrant city it is today. However, it is also about rebirth and making something new while preserving the richness of what once was.

Through Aaron’s eyes for growth, the train depot station has entered a new era: a cohesion of looking back, while seeing just how far our city can go.

“I want to highlight the richness of the Springs,” Aaron said. “I think we’re so overlooked all the time. I just want to be proud that I live here—and I am proud.”