Rising Stars: Meet John Little of Glenwood Springs

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Little.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The Pullman is part of a small, independent restaurant group that began in 1998 with Six89 in Carbondale, founded by Mark Fischer and Lari Goode. Over the years, their passion for great food, hospitality, and community grew into four restaurants that helped shape the local dining scene.

After COVID, Mark and Lari retired, selling their last two restaurants to the chefs and general managers who helped build them. In January 2021, John Little and Rick Dufon took ownership of The Pullman — a new chapter in a long-running story. In January 2026, The Pullman will proudly celebrate its 15-year anniversary.

For John, this journey has truly come full circle. He continued his career as a sous chef at Six89 and went on to open The Pullman as its first chef. After spending a few years away — including running their sister restaurant, Harman’s, in Denver — John returned to The Pullman in 2019.

As John often says, “I was taught to work like you own it — until maybe one day you do.” For him, those words couldn’t be truer.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Anyone who’s worked in a restaurant knows the road is never smooth. We’ve faced our fair share of challenges — wildfires, COVID, staffing shortages, rising costs, even a new bridge that changed the flow of our town — just to name a few.

But when you take a step back and look at the bigger picture, our road has been about as smooth as one could hope for. And that’s because of one main reason: our people.

It started with Mark and Lari, who laid the groundwork for everything we do. Hardworking, caring, and endlessly creative — they’re the powerhouse couple who made all of this possible, and they continue to cheer us on even after retiring.

We’ve also been lucky to have a great landlord who believed in the potential of Glenwood Springs long before the rest of us could see it, and incredible guests — locals and visitors alike — who continue to support us through every off-season and uncertain time.

But most importantly, it’s our staff. We have an amazing team, including a few who’ve been with us since day one, and many incredible additions along the way. They’re the ones who share our hospitality, who make guests feel seen and welcome, who turn visitors into long-lost friends, and who embody the spirit of this special place we’re lucky enough to call home.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We like to think of ourselves as a gateway drug to the foodie world.

Our kitchen crew is incredible — creative, curious, and always eager to cook food that’s fun, thoughtful, and a little unexpected. But we also know where we are: tucked right next to I-70, where plenty of visitors come in looking for what they call “tourist food.”

So we walk that fine line — creating dishes that have something for everyone, while still nudging people just a bit outside their comfort zone. It’s a balance we’ve come to love, and we think it’s what makes The Pullman a great example of what a restaurant can be in a small town.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
One that shaped my future is eating sun warmed tomatoes in my baby sitters garden with a pocket full of salt. At the time it was nothing, but I can still taste those tomatoes when I close my eyes. And I still think how good things can be when they are cared for and picked at their peak.

Contact Info:

• Website: Thepullmangws.com
• Instagram: @thepullmangws