For 27 years, Letnes Restaurant Group — and Poncho and Lefty’s in particular — has been part of the very heartbeat of this community. We are more than just a restaurant. We are a gathering place, a landmark, a piece of Baxter’s identity. Generations of families, friends and neighbors have celebrated milestones, shared meals and built memories within our walls.

Today, we write to you not simply as business owners, but as deeply invested members of this community — concerned for the future of our employees, our guests and Baxter itself.

As you know, the uncertainty surrounding the Highway 371 bypass has forced us to put a much-needed remodel on hold — a project we have been working toward for over a year. Only to find ourselves unable to move forward. This is not just about a remodel — it is about the long-term survival of Poncho and Lefty’s, and with it, the strength of Grizzly’s Wood-Fired Grill and Boulder Tap House, which will also be impacted by the proposed construction routes.

We ask you to pause and think about what it would mean — not only to us, but to Baxter — if these businesses, which have faithfully served this community for decades, were forced into vacancy. What message would that send to the community? To future businesses considering investing here? To families deciding where to live, work, and raise their children?

Behind our doors are not just kitchens and tables. Behind our doors are people. Some of our staff have worked with us for decades — feeding their families, raising their children and pouring their lives into this community. To tell them their jobs, their security, and their futures are at risk is heartbreaking. These are not abstract numbers. These are real families — hundreds of lives — that would be upended at a time when inflation and economic uncertainty are already making daily life difficult.

We care deeply for our people — our staff, our vendors, our partners our maintenance crews, and all those who rely on us. Their livelihoods are intertwined with ours. If we are forced to halt our growth, or worse, close our doors, the ripple effect will touch far beyond our own pocketbook.

There must be another way. Another resolution that protects the hardworking men and women who have built not only these businesses, but the very fabric of this community. We implore you to consider the human impact, the community impact, and the legacy impact of this decision.

We need you to hear us. We need you to see the faces behind the numbers. And we need you to help ensure that Baxter remains a place where businesses and families can grow, thrive, and build futures together.

With sincerity, urgency, and hope,

The Letnes Restaurant Group
Poncho and Lefty’s, Grizzly’s Wood-Fired Grill, Boulder Tap House – Baxter