Raising a Glass to Community: Little Pub Company Keeps Denver’s Neighborhood Bars Thriving with GoTab

OVERVIEW: In a city where sleek cocktail lounges and high-rise restaurants are quickly replacing corner pubs, Little Pub Company stands as a reminder of what makes Denver special. Founded in 1994 and still proudly local, the group now operates 18 beloved bars and two beer gardens across the region. 

They’re all built on one simple idea: keep neighborhood hospitality alive.

That commitment shines through at Billy Birch Pub & Yard in the heart of Thornton and The Old Man Bar in Broomfield, two venues that embody the company’s mission to stay rooted in community while embracing technology that makes service smoother for both guests and staff.

“We’ve always believed that people make the bar,” said Rachel Callison, who serves as Regional Support Manager for Little Pub Holdings. “Each neighborhood has its own rhythm, its own regulars, and its own expectations. Our job is to listen to them and deliver what they want.”

GoTab has become a key part of that promise. Across both locations, the team has implemented GoTab’s flexible platform and hybrid service model to handle thousands of guests efficiently without losing the personality that defines their local pubs.

WHERE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETS INNOVATION

At Billy Birch Pub & Yard, the story starts with family. The bar was built from the ground up as a tribute to the owner’s late father, whose Latvian name, Villa Berzins, translates to Billy Birch.

The space covers 7,500 square feet outdoors and another 1,000 inside. It was designed for long afternoons, big games and those easy Colorado weekends when no one is in a rush. Since opening in June 2025, it has already become a community favorite, hosting cornhole tournaments, $2 Taco Tuesdays and early-morning Broncos Sundays that start with coffee, breakfast burritos and a hot chocolate bar.

“Billy Birch was built for the neighborhood,” Callison said. “It’s a place where people can bring their family and their dogs, grab tacos, and watch the Broncos.”

Just eight miles away, The Old Man Bar brings a different kind of charm. Tucked in Broomfield, it’s a neighborhood favorite that has been saved from demolition more than once. Little Pub Company stepped in years ago to keep it alive after plans surfaced to replace it with a parking lot.

The walls are carved with names and initials that date back decades, a living scrapbook of stories that show what happens when a bar truly belongs to its people. During the summer, locals gather for events like YogaRITA, where guests stretch, laugh and toast with margaritas afterward. During Thanksgiving, they even sell whole smoked turkeys and a Thanksgiving Day feast. 

Each Little Pub Co. location mirrors the look and feel of its neighborhood. The team listens first, then creates spaces that reflect the community around them.

“When I was 16, I had my first date at The Old Man,” Callison said with a smile. “Now I help run it. It’s personal. That’s what neighborhood bars do. They become part of people’s lives.”

HOW GOTAB POWERS THE HYBRID MODEL

As both spaces grew busier, Little Pub Company faced a challenge familiar to many operators: how to scale service without losing personal connection. Between sprawling outdoor patios and limited staff, traditional service models couldn’t keep up.

That’s where GoTab’s support for hybrid service models came in.

“Inside, we do full table service unless guests prefer the QR,” Callison explained. “Outside, it’s completely QR or walk-up service. Either way, the bartenders bring your food and drinks right to your table. You just relax.”

This flexibility allows each guest to choose their preferred experience. Some enjoy scanning a QR code and ordering instantly. Others want face-to-face interaction with bartenders they know by name. 

Both options coexist seamlessly thanks to GoTab’s platform.

Unlike traditional systems that tie staff to terminals, GoTab lets bartenders move freely between the bar, the floor, and the patio. Orders flow automatically to the right printers -- food to the kitchen, drinks to the bar -- without the confusion of juggling multiple systems.

LISTENING TO THE LOCALS

For Little Pub Company, every bar has its own personality because every neighborhood has its own voice.

“You can put a bar anywhere and do what you want,” Callison said, “but if you actually listen to the neighbors, they make the bar themselves.”

That philosophy influences everything -- from menu design to beer selection to seasonal promotions. In Thornton, guests wanted local craft beers, so Billy Birch switched its taps to showcase Colorado breweries like Breckenridge and Avery. In Broomfield, regulars prefer budget-friendly offerings, so the team leaned into $2 well drinks and Bud Light on Tuesdays.

Even GoTab plays a role in community engagement. Locals who live along the fence line surrounding Billy Birch get 10% off food Monday through Friday and exclusive event invites. Using GoTab’s built-in promotions, Callison can easily set up discounts and communicate offers directly through digital menus and receipts.

The results speak for themselves. There are long lines on sunny days, familiar faces returning week after week, and a growing reputation as the kind of place where everyone feels known.

A woman named Kristi wrote about Billy Birch: “This place is amazing! It’s a neighborhood chill spot with affordable prices and the friendliest staff and management! The yard space is incredible, the music, the vibe, the fire pits and lawn chairs…it’s cool. The QR code is effortless. We ordered drinks and food with ease and it was delivered in less than 10 minutes. We love having this in our community!” 

A TECHNOLOGY THAT DISAPPEARS INTO HOSPITALITY

While GoTab brings cutting-edge technology to the table, guests rarely notice it and that’s exactly the point.

“People come to neighborhood bars because they want to feel connected,” Callison said. “Technology should make that easier, not get in the way. GoTab gives us the tools to serve faster, communicate better, and stay present with our guests.”

If you walk into The Old Man or Billy Birch on a Friday night, you’ll notice something. There aren’t any servers. 

“We don’t have sections, and we don’t have servers,” Callison explained. “Everyone’s a bartender, and everyone shares the floor.”

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They no longer have to split roles between server, food runner, and cashier. 

Instead, they move naturally between duties, staying visible and approachable. That dynamic fosters genuine hospitality – something corporate venues often lose.

It also keeps the company’s mission alive. For Little Pub Company, every pint poured and burger served is a small act of community preservation. 

By pairing GoTab’s smart systems with a human touch, they’ve found a model that honors both tradition and progress.

“It’s like a dance,” Callison said. “Everyone knows where to jump in, and GoTab keeps us all in sync. You’ll see bartenders walking from table to table with handhelds, chatting with guests, helping them order if they prefer not to scan. It feels natural.”

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Company: Little Pub Company (Denver, Colorado)
Featured Venues: The Old Man Bar and Billy Birch Pub & Yard
Founded: 1994, still locally owned and operated

GoTab Tools Used:

• GoTab POS and QR ordering
• Hybrid service model (table + QR + walk-up)
• Handheld ordering devices
• Integrated KDS and kitchen and bar printer routing
• Built-in promotions and discounts

Implementation Highlights:

• Seamless QR and full-service hybrid model for both indoor and outdoor spaces
• Increased labor efficiency, serving up to 1,000 guests with just eight bartenders
• Improved order accuracy and speed through targeted printer routing
• Strengthened community engagement via GoTab’s loyalty and promotion tools

Why It Works: Neighborhood bars are having a moment again. Across cities like Denver, people are rediscovering the joy of familiar faces, cold drinks, and places that feel like home. GoTab helps operators meet that demand with technology that stays out of the way and lets hospitality shine.

If you’re ready to bring your community together with faster service, happier guests, and a smarter way to run your bar, taproom or brewery, connect with GoTab and see how modern tech can keep your local tradition alive. We’re more than a POS; our entertainment commerce platform is designed to optimize experiences AND efficiencies. We’re the only platform that puts the guest at the center of the experience. Request a Demo to learn more.