Common Folk in the Boat (Ep. 25 - Coleman Holloway)

Presented by Billo Premium Cannabis

In this episode, we sit down with Coleman Holloway — lifelong Steamboat local and co-owner of the T-Bar, a place that has grown into one of the town’s most iconic après-ski institutions. Born and raised in Steamboat Springs, Coleman shares what it was like to grow up in a tight-knit mountain town where everyone knows your name, and how those early impressions helped shape not only the person he is today, but the kind of business he and his brother Tres wanted to build.

We talk about the role of family and how the Holloway brothers' culinary journey led to a vision for something totally different at the base of the ski resort: a five-star dive bar for locals. The T-Bar was born out of a ski patrol trailer with more than a few bad memories attached for injured skiers and snowboarders — Coleman and Tres transformed it into a lively, authentic spot that celebrates good food, irreverent charm, and community. As Coleman puts it, “We’re permanently temporary.”

In a resort town where most bars and restaurants cater to the ever-turning wave of tourists, the T-Bar stands out for its fierce commitment to the local scene. We dig into what it takes to hold that space — how Coleman and the team have stayed true to the locals-first mission, why that identity matters more than ever, and how they’ve managed to create a place where locals actually want to hang out.

We also get Coleman’s take on the evolution of Steamboat — from the ski culture he grew up with to the rapid development at the base area — and what he hopes remains unchanged. As the town grows and the resort expands, what’s the future for the T-Bar? Will it survive the transformation happening around it, or be swept up in the march of progress?

This episode is full of heart, humor, and hometown honesty — a must-listen for anyone who loves Steamboat, cares about preserving the soul of a mountain town, or just wants to know the story behind the best après trailer in America.