Owner of Duke’s Steakhouse, Neil Minarick (left), shakes hands with Chuck Lowen, the leasing agent for the space Duke’s will soon occupy in the Village Square Shopping Center. Duke’s was formerly located in south Castle Rock.

Article and photo by Lisa Crockett

The change of seasons heralds a change in the Castle Pines dining scene. After 14 years in south Castle Rock, Duke’s Steakhouse will open its doors this fall in a new location in the Village Square Shopping Center in the space previously occupied by The Barking Goat Tavern.

“This is a great space with beautiful woodwork,” said Neil Minarick, who owns Duke’s with partner Craig Breeding. “Over the years we’ve had several customers from Castle Pines who visited our old location and we’re really looking forward to doing business here.”

Renovations to the former sports bar location will include expansion of the patio area and a reconfiguration of the existing interior space to include a large dining room.

“This will be a fun family atmosphere and a great dining experience,” said Minarick.

The leasing agent for the space, Chuck Lowen, said he’s glad to see Duke’s become a part of the Castle Pines business community.

“We see our businesses as the heart of the Castle Pines community,” said Lowen. “We are always pleased to have a proven, family-owned business come to the area and feel that Duke’s will really be a nice compliment to the [Castle Pines] library. This is a place where people can come and bring their families and enjoy great food.”

“We want to encourage people from the community to come out and give our local businesses a try,” continued Lowen. “We can really see the economy improving and we’re able to attract solid businesses as we work through this economy.”

For those who want to catch a game, plenty of televisions will be on hand, with 16 beers on tap in the bar. A “library” room, which can accommodate up to 30 people, will be available for meetings or parties.

Duke’s menu prominently features steak and prime rib, as well as seafood and salads. Sirloin for burgers is ground in-house for fresh taste and excellent quality. Locally ranched bison from the Endless Frontier Ranch, located just south of Larkspur, rounds out the menu with a homegrown, unique flavor.

“The way the animals are raised uses no hormones or antibiotics,” said Minarick. “The buffalo items on the menu often show up on our specials board, and the buffalo chicken-fried steak is a favorite – you can cut it with a fork.”

Owner of Duke’s Steakhouse, Neil Minarick (left), shakes hands with Chuck Lowen, the leasing agent for the space Duke’s will soon occupy in the Village Square Shopping Center. Duke’s was formerly located in south Castle Rock.