How Garfinkel’s in Vail, CO, Is Turning 30 Years of Hospitality Into a High-Tech Advantage

This beloved ski town bar blends high-volume service, local tradition, and smarter tech

OVERVIEW: For over 30 years, Garfinkel’s has been a cornerstone of the Vail, Colorado, experience. Locally known as “Garfs,” this iconic establishment in Lionshead Village has long been more than just a place to grab a drink after hitting the slopes. It is a neighborhood pub in a resort town, a spot where ski boots and flip-flops coexist, and where guests return each year like clockwork. It is the kind of place where stories are passed down through photos on the walls and where the traditions of après ski meet the future of hospitality.

“If they’re coming back that often, you know you’re doing something right,” said Mike Dunlap, longtime operator of Garfinkel’s. “You see the same families year after year. Kids grow up. They bring their kids. It means something.”

Operating in a resort town isn’t for the faint of heart. Between sky-high rent, fluctuating labor availability, and a guest base that resets every few days, most restaurants struggle to survive long-term. But Garfinkel’s has endured. And part of that success comes from their willingness to adapt to innovative technology like GoTab without compromising their identity.

An Atmosphere You Can’t Manufacture

When asked to describe Garfs, Dunlap did not hesitate. “It’s the American version of an Irish pub,” he said. 

Garfinkel’s has been independently owned since 1993 and Dunlap has been part of its story for much of that journey. With a restaurant career that started at 14, he’s seen hospitality trends come and go. But one thing has never changed: the need to deliver an unforgettable guest experience, no matter the season or the staffing.

“You’ve got a deck full of people, a great view, and food and drinks flying,” he said. “It’s supposed to be loud. It’s supposed to be full.”

Meeting Guests Where They Are: Enter GoTab

When Garfs started exploring new POS systems in late 2024, Dunlap knew he needed more than software. He needed a solution that could help him serve the same number of guests with fewer employees. He also needed something that felt intuitive for both guests and staff.

After looking at Heartland, Toast, Clover, Lightspeed, and SpotOn, GoTab stood out. 

“We’re in a resort town,” Dunlap shared. “Employees are going to get scarce, but guests are still going to show up. So how do you serve the same number of people with less staff? GoTab answered that question for us.”

By July 4th of this year, Garfinkel’s had fully transitioned to GoTab. That day, he had 25 people on the deck at 12:30. By 1 p.m., there were more than 750. “We did 1,200 covers with two fewer people on the floor than normal,” he said.

The secret? Let guests decide how they want to order. Some scan the QR code, others wait for a server, and some place their orders with handhelds. Either way, it all flows into the same system. 

“It’s seamless. Nobody’s waiting in line or flagging down a server,” Dunlap said. 

Summer Vibes, Winter Volume

Garfinkel’s is more than just a ski-season business. Their summers are just as busy, if not more so. The sports bar also gets weekend traffic from the Denver crowd. With more than 5,000 square feet of indoor and patio space in warm weather, the staff has to stay nimble. And when the snow piles up, the restaurant contracts down to about 2,000 square feet and pivots into high-volume ski mode.

Dunlap uses GoTab to adjust on the fly. He can update menus in minutes instead of waiting on printed materials. He can turn on location-based discounts to drive traffic to the patio. And he can make staffing decisions based on real-time volume.

“This is the push of the ball of AI in our business,” Dunlap said. “If you set it up right in the beginning, it buys you time down the line.”

In a business where the weather can change everything, speed is crucial. GoTab lets Dunlap make real-time menu changes, adjust pricing, and push discounts based on location. “We used to need weeks to update the menu,” he said. “Now I can do it in five minutes.”

He even creates on-the-fly discounts for guests who dine outdoors in snowy conditions. 

“We can get creative now. It’s a great tool,” he said.

Dunlap also appreciates the integrations GoTab offers. With MarginEdge and QuickBooks, he gets real-time financial data, giving him the insight he needs to make quick decisions. 

Continuous Reinvention is the Name of the Game

Garfinkel’s has never followed a traditional model. They eliminated hosts years ago and allow seating to happen organically. 

“I used to say, why make ourselves like everybody else? We’ve never done things the traditional way, and we’re not about to start now,” Dunlap explained. 

That mindset also shapes how Dunlap approaches staffing. “Cross-training isn’t optional anymore. It’s survival,” he said. “Everyone should be able to run food and pour drinks.”

With GoTab, Garfinkel’s is able to operate smoothly with just three team members on the floor, even during peak hours. “You don’t need separate roles for server, bartender, or food runner. You need a team of service agents who are trained and confident,” Dunlap said. “This system gives us the flexibility to adapt.”

GoTab’s hybrid ordering model allows guests to choose how they want to engage. Some prefer QR codes and mobile ordering. Others want full-service hospitality. 

“It’s not one size fits all,” he added. “We let guests decide their pace, and the system flexes to meet that.”

Looking ahead, Dunlap knows there’s still more to unlock. “We’re still figuring out all the things this system can do, but it’s already faster than anything we’ve had,” he said. 

After 32 years of outstanding service, Garfinkel’s is still evolving. With GoTab powering the next chapter, the story of this iconic bar is just getting started.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Venue: Garfinkel’s; Vail, Colorado
Opened: 1993; 100% locally owned and operated
Operator: Mike Dunlap
GoTab Tools Used: POS system, Kitchen Display System (KDS), QR code ordering, handhelds, customer-facing displays, QuickBooks and MarginEdge integration

Implementation Timeline: Six months from exploration to full rollout

Impact and Other Notables:

• 5,000+ square feet of indoor and outdoor space that can flex down to 2,000 square feet during harsh weather
• Served 1,200 covers on July 4 with two fewer staff
• Runs full-capacity après ski service during winter, with guests often three deep at the bar and packed on the heated deck
• Cut menu update time from weeks to minutes
• Reduced paper waste and streamlined modifiers
• Enabled flexible service zones with location-based discounts
• Integrated financial tracking and back-of-house systems
• Strengthened staff performance through cross-training and role flexibility

Why It Works: Garfinkel’s combines three decades of operational experience with the flexibility of GoTab’s technology. In a resort town where conditions shift by the hour, they’ve created a model that’s fast, efficient, and built to last. 

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