Pepper Pod’s final week and other Mountain West farewells.
It is rare to witness the end of a legacy that spans more than a century, but this week marks the conclusion of a 114-year run for the Pepper Pod in Hudson, Colorado. This historic departure headlines a week of stark contrasts across the Mountain West, where we also bid farewell to Xicamiti in Golden—a nationally ranked taquería forced to close after just 16 months due to a lease dispute. From the semi-retirement of the owner of Acapulco in Caldwell, Idaho after 35 years to the quiet exit of Elote in Missoula, this update reflects on how neither deep roots nor sudden acclaim can guarantee survival in today’s landscape. This email edition was originally sent out on Jan 9th, 2026.
Our Friday edition, Mountain West Report, documents restaurant closures across the rugged landscapes of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. Published every Friday, this edition reflects on how booming interior cities and quiet mountain towns alike are navigating shifting tourism cycles and changing demographics. It serves as a weekly record of the places that fed locals, travelers, and entire communities tucked between the peaks and the open road. Read more here.
