Meet Jennifer Lewis | GM/Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Lewis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My husband Ahmad and I had been looking at a few places to run our own business for the past couple of years, not solely in Vail or necessarily a restaurant, but we knew it would be something with food and beverage. We had known the previous owners of the restaurant at the Vail Racquet Club, who approached us in December 2021 with the opportunity. At the time (it was right before the holidays), which is the busiest time in Vail, and we said no way. Then in January, we talked again, and agreed to have a chat about the space. Ahmad is the negotiator, go getter, hard working, persistent human with any job he has ever done. So it was ultimately his decision and vision that sealed the deal. We had also just bought a condo in East Vail that winter, so it kind of all worked out in a way that it was meant to be.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Before we started our restaurants careers in Vail, we both worked various jobs; Ahmad in hospitals and myself in hotels. I can say that both of our families always worked and some are still working, and possibly forever in one way or another! There will always be challenges, obstacles, hard times, and learning curves. However, the goal is to get the job done. I think what I have learned the most is everyone will make mistakes and you have to own up to whatever those are. You never know what someone is going through, whether its guests or coworkers and communication and being humble is key.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ahhhhhh my (our) favorite thing to do!!!! Vail is so spectacular in so many ways and every month of the year. So two trips; summer and winter and depending on golfing or hiking 😉 This might be too much…

Summer:
Hiking – Berry Picker on Vail Mtn, Meadow Mtn in Minturn, Berry Creek in Edwards, and/or Booth Falls in East Vail
Golfing – Vail Golf Course (stunning views of the gore range), Sonnenalp Golf course – both have great patios too
Lunch – Mountain Standard for the BEST ONION RINGS ever and a fantastic margarita! El Segundo for tacos, awesome patio in the summer over gore creek
Music – Tuesday evening – free concert at Ford Park Amphitheater, Bravo classical music series with Dallas Symphony, Philadelphia Philharmonic, or New York Philharmonic.
Breakfast/Coffee – BEST BAGELS at Village Bagel – our best friend Connie owns it from NY (so you know they are true bagels), Hovey and Harrison – yummy pastries, market, and snacks. Two Arrows for coffee and the BEST MATCHA latte.
Massage – Local Revival with Pam bc she is amazing!
Dinner – La Nonna, fantastic Italian! Osaki’s for sushi, Sweet Basil – classic Vail staple. Montauk – seafood, Russell’s – steak
Other activates – Bike ride to VBC brewery in Eagle Vail and/or along the gore creek trail. Check out Go Pro games in June.
Winter:
Replace hiking and golfing with skiing and snowshoeing 🙂 Add in some Apres spots for after skiing; Root & Flower (great cocktails), Sweet Basil for an Irish Coffee, Sonnenalp for some music, and more onion rings at Mountain Standard!
Instead of biking, take a yoga class at Gravity Haus, check out the Vail lights walk around over the holidays, or soak up some afternoon sun in the Spring on top of Vail Mtn at The 10th restaurant patio.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Ahmad and I both worked for Sweet Basil and Mountain Standard for over a decade, so most homage to Kevin Claire (founder of Sweet Basil), Matt Morgan (managing partner, now owner) Paul Anders (managing partner, chef), Sam Ferrraro (GM of Sweet Basil for 18 years) and Christine Williams (previous GM, current owner of Clover Club group in Brooklyn, NY), and everyone else from kitchen, service, guests, locals, friends, entrepreneurs, etc. we worked with through those years for all experiences.

Website: www.aprescafevail.com

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