The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

In October 2022 Nikki Cabrera closed on her very own restaurant building and since then, she and her boyfriend Robert have spent nights, weekends and even days while snowed in due to blizzards conditions working to freshen up the space that will now house Kiki's Bar and Grill in downtown Fleming. Cabrera purchased the former Bully's Pub and Grub building from Mark and Deb Tryboski.

"This is something I've wanted to do for a very long time," Cabrera said inside her building at 208 North Logan Avenue in Fleming. "Ten, even 12 years ago, I thought about doing something like this but I really enjoyed being a server."

Cabrera began her career in the food service industry at Delgado's in Sterling, a place she served customers for nearly 15 years. Several years ago she made a slight career change when she accepted a management position at Sam and Louie's in downtown Sterling with then owners Mike and Denise Schaefer

"I wasn't sure about it at first, it was all new to me," Cabrera said of the manager position that would entail overseeing scheduling, ordering food and liquor among a host of other things. "It's all really been the stepping stone to where I am now. Sam and Louie's gave me confidence. I super enjoy seeing people, meeting new people and the interaction that comes with it. It's just a lot of fun."

Now that she is the owner of her own establishment, Cabrera said she is yet again learning a whole new side of food service and while it has been stressful at times, she said it will all be worth it.

"I tossed the idea around for a long time, maybe close to a year, and even came here to look at the building three for four times before pulling the trigger," she said. "But I enjoyed being a server and I love food and trying new things, at more off the grid type places especially."

Cabrera said when the Bully's building came up for sale, she decided the dream of owning her own restaurant could be a possibility. "It was a turn key restaurant for the most part. I didn't need to put in a new kitchen or anything like that. I just decided that now is the time to do it."

At first Cabrera said she was slightly nervous to venture outside of Sterling but now that she has her building and is getting established in Fleming, those nerves have subsided. "There are a lot of people out here, I think it will be really great. I am very excited about it."

Since closing on the building last October, Cabrera has been working on the back end to obtain necessary licensing from the health department as well as a liquor license from the State of Colorado.

As for inside the building, Cabrera and her boyfriend have been doing the majority of the work themselves including freshening up the place with new paint, flooring and light fixtures.

"It takes a lot longer when we're are doing a lot of the work on the weekends, but we are tackling one thing at a time," Cabrera said.

While working to open the new restaurant, Cabrera is still working lunches at Sam and Louie's, something she plans until her new restaurant is open.

Kiki's Bar and Grill will feature a menu similar to Bully's Pub and Grub with steaks, sandwiches and burgers. Along with that, Cabrera will continue with some of the popular evening specials like Mexican night, RMOs, a pasta night, crab legs and prime rib. Plans are to also have a Sunday brunch.

As of last week, Cabrera plans to have Kiki's Bar and Grill open by mid-march. The restaurant will be open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Bar hours will be extended on weekends. At some point, Cabrera hopes to bring in live entertainment as well.

For more information and to keep up with an official open date, follow Kiki's Bar and Grill on Facebook. The site will also feature daily specials. Once open, to-go orders and reservations may be made at (970) 265-4925.