Conversations with Chris Odde

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Odde. 

Hi Chris, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started working in the restaurant business when I was still a teenager. In my life’s adventure, I have ran various types of restaurants in Florida, Washington, and Colorado. I have had the good fortune to have extraordinary success at my 2 most recent local stops prior to opening Odde’s Music Grill (OMG) this past November. 

I humbly owe all of my recent successes to my managers and staff whom I affectionally and respectfully refer to as my “family”. I can’t imagine being in this business without them and frankly, I wouldn’t want to be, I consider the Grill as much theirs as it is mine and I believe the “family” pride we all have with and for one another really comes out in our exceptional food and customer service… 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
When we took over the former Sweetwater’s in September of 2021, we had a vision for a comfortable neighborhood restaurant/bar with live music & entertainment, great food, and an eclectic whiskey selection. We knew with our great food and service, people would find us. When we got into the place to begin renovations, we discovered many, many problems with the restaurant, and our plan to be open in a month was simply impossible. 

It was quite to my surprise we were able to open early November considering the mountain of remodeling, fixes, and repairs we had to do to the place. Again, all of the credit goes to my awesome staff who worked (sometimes around the clock) to help get Odde’s Music Grill open. 

Considering the stigma of the former restaurant, a pandemic, the Marshall Fire, and the winter weather, people who have made it in have been excited they have a new watering hole in the neighborhood with “great food”. Others are excited to have a fun live entertainment venue locally and yet others are excited for the Bachrum Book Club inside Odde’s Music Grill (OMG), which opens March 1. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I can honestly say I am enjoying my work the most when I am creating something…whether it be a new food dish, a cocktail, a marketing idea or just coming up with something fun for our customers to enjoy. Oftentimes, ideas come to me in the middle of the night. I wake up thinking about cranberry barbecue sauce and bleu cheese, and the next day that’s what we are cooking up. I playfully refer to what we are doing now as “upscale dive” due to the smaller kitchen, 

I am sure many of my epiphanies would still be in the developmental stage if it wasn’t for my work family who take my crazy ideas (often after they are done laughing at me) and bring them to reality. I would have the most creative hot dog cart which nobody would have ever heard of if it wasn’t for their tireless dedication to see Odde’s Music Grill be successful. 

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
So many creative minds are pushing the restaurant bar industry to new heights in the suburbs. It used to be if you wanted something exciting, unique, or new you had to go to downtown. It’s definitely reached beyond that now and I expect it to continue. In Broomfield/Westminster places like Northside Tavern, The Burns Pub, and Hickory and Ash have really raised the bar on food and cocktails, and they have been doing it rather quietly for years. I am hoping to tap into that market with a little twist, bringing entertainment. Singer/Songwriter nights have been fabulous, comedy nights are a blast, and we have had some of the best bands in Colorado grace our stage. We just want to bring it to you with a better meal and a better cocktail, if that’s your thing. 

What we were hoping for, and what we are finding out, is that people are willing to have their night out in the neighborhood. A trend I hope continues. So, my outlook for the industry is that we have competition coming, and we welcome it. 

Contact Info:

• Email: info@omgcolorado.com
• Website: https://omgcolorado.com/
• Instagram: @https://www.instagram.com/oddesmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/omgcolorado/
• Twitter: @omgcolorado
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiFqPyopMpcsiPnHcvzj2iw