Have you ever enjoyed dinner and drinks at a historic Colorado gas station? A 40-minute drive from Denver leads you to Johnson’s Station, where the urban landscape gives way to the rolling farmland of Boulder County. As you enter Prospect, a planned New Urbanist community on the southern edge of Longmont, the warm glow of the “Johnson’s Gas” red and yellow neon sign beckons travelers. Inside and out, the venue pays homage to the past while seamlessly incorporating the modern amenities today’s customers expect. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., visitors can work, dine, or relax in this former 1937 gas station.
A former life in petrol
The building was one of five Johnson’s service depots in Colorado built by Joe S. Johnson that gained prominence in the years following the Great Depression. Originally located one mile north on Longmont’s Main Street, the historic landmark was saved from demolition and moved to its current location in 2003 by Prospect New Town’s developer Kiki Wallace, where it sat dormant for almost two decades.
After local developers David and Zachary Nassar took over the property in 2020, the structure underwent a meticulous restoration to preserve its art deco pueblo style, originally designed by prominent Denver architect Eugene Graves. Now named Johnson’s Station, the venue stands apart in both name and function from the similarly named Johnson’s Corner, a functioning gas station and restaurant in nearby Loveland. (That location, built in the 1950s as part of Joe S. Johnson’s empire, is now owned by Petro, a subsidiary of BP.)
History, revamped
In contrast, the original building of Johnson’s Station serves as the historical centerpiece of a modern complex, featuring a series of comfortable lounges with ample seating and wifi. The upstairs rooms, once the gas station manager’s apartment, offer an ideal setting for guests to bring their laptops and enjoy a drip or nitro coffee from the bar while they work remotely.
For the afternoon and evening crowds, a series of extensions on the side and behind the building bring a dedicated bar area and an expansive outdoor dining and activity space. Parents can drop their kids off to enjoy lawn games and an arcade stocked with ‘80s classics like Donkey Kong and Galaga. Meanwhile, couples and groups of friends gather along the back wall, clinking glasses and cozying up around fire pits built into the tables – ideal for the colder nights ahead.
Let the people eat (and drink)
For the operators, one of the biggest lessons since opening on September 13th has been underestimating the popularity of the food program. “We thought we’d be a bar with some food options, but people really want to eat here,” explained Giovanni Leone, one of Johnson’s Station’s co-owners, in an email. “This has prompted us to rework the kitchen flow for greater efficiency and to get quality food into people’s hands faster.”
Popular options include fast-food inspired eats like a quarter-pound burger that costs less than $9 and a marinated fried chicken sandwich that gets its kick from a housemade Nashville hot sauce.
The beverage offerings have also brought surprises. “I would have bet money that we’d be beer-dominant,” says Leone. While the extensive beer selection includes local brews from companies like Westbound & Down and New Image, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages have also been strong sellers each night. This success is largely thanks to beverage director Kurt Dressler III’s creativity. For instance, drinks like the “Coffee Tequila” – a house-made infusion of coffee, vanilla, cinnamon, and chocolate – and the non-alcoholic “Pump 6,” made with juiced carrot, pineapple, lemon, and spiced pear syrup, are exceptionally well-crafted.
Design touches
With so much history attached to the site, the owners incorporated elements of that legacy into the design. Quirky touches, like a working shower outside the bathrooms, pay homage to the lot’s former life as the town’s public pool, which was located behind the relocated Johnson’s building.
“We love doing the unexpected, even if it’s something others might consider ‘wrong,’” said Leone. However, some guests are skeptical about the functionality of the remaining features. “One person didn’t believe us when we said the showers still work,” Leone recalled. “He was definitely surprised when he turned it on, but luckily, he was a good sport about it.”
Another fun feature is found out front: the gas pumps no longer serve petrol. Instead, there are two electric vehicle charging stations. Guests can pull up their EVs at any time for free charging.
This venue brings fresh energy to Prospect and the greater Longmont area, and it will be interesting to see if it inspires more ambitious projects in the region.
What are your thoughts on initiatives that creatively reuse and reimagine historic buildings for today’s customers?
The details
Johnson’s Station
1111 Neon Forest Cir
Longmont, CO 80504
Disclosure: This meal was hosted. My coverage remains entirely independent.