The partners gutted the space and did the construction work themselves to create a bar that celebrates the growing action-sports scene in Colorado, which Galbraith considers a mecca for everything from dirt bikes and mountain bikes to skiing and snowboarding. "It's incredible out here," he says. "And it's building so fast. It's mind-boggling to see how the sports grow every year."
Part of the reason for that popularity could be that Generation X kids like Galbraith, still into skateboarding, snowboarding and downhill in their thirties, who are passing those passions down to their kids. "For the first time," he points out, "these little kids are growing up watching their dads skateboard instead of just throwing a baseball around." Cheapskates is also reaching out to fans of motocross, one of the fastest-growing sports in the country; the partners plan to show the motocross nationals all summer long in surround sound.
While the bar caters to fans of non-mainstream sports, Galbraith says he wanted to be sure the place has a clean and classy look. "I didn't just want to hang a hundred skate decks on the wall," he explains, "because that tends to scare people away who aren't Generation X and didn't grow up that way."
The partners chose the name Cheapskates to reflect the concept of "pricing to our customer without dropping the quality," Galbraith explains, "which meant undercutting pretty much everyone in the neighborhood on food and drinks." The lineup includes beer on tap from such local breweries like Great Divide, Odell and New Belgium; the emphasis here is on local sources for the food menu, too, which includes a half-pound burger, taco pie, fries and tots.
From 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, Cheapskates also offers an-all-you-can-eat pulled pork special for $5. And while some of the other joints in Olde Town Arvada shut down somewhat early, Cheapskates features a late-night menu that's served until last call every night.
