Local Fort Collins' favorite Spoons, Soups Salads & Sandwiches opened in 2003 with the goal of, "Making soup better than anywhere else, anywhere," and the restaurant has kept that promise. Spoons first location popped up in the Northern Hotel in Old Town Fort Collins, and now the local restaurant has six locations scattered across the city. We think it's safe to say Spoons is a hit! We were more than thrilled to get to know Spoons in Old Town better in this week's community connections. 

What do you love about Fort Collins? 

I love the variety that Fort Collins has to offer. From the great outdoors (biking, camping, fishing, etc.) to the arts and culture, to great dining experiences, to breweries, and so much more - Fort Collins never leaves you with a shortage of amazing things to do. In addition, the community and people are always so friendly and welcoming wherever you go.

What are some of your favorite things to do in Fort Collins?

Hands down, my favorite thing to do in Fort Collins is to hop on my bike with my family, take a long ride on any of the great trails in town and end up on a patio at a brewery like Odell or on a patio at an awesome restaurant like Coopersmith’s. We love going to CSU football games too. If it is Saturday or Sunday morning, you can definitely find us at a farmer's market during the summer.

What makes Spoons unique? 

Several things make our Spoons unique. One of them being our close connection to farmers and the use of local produce. Every Saturday in the summer we go out to Fossil Creek Farms and actually pick the produce that will go into the following week's soups and salads. Another thing that makes Spoons unique is that our menu changes daily. Every day we have 8-10 different soup selections, which are altogether different from the day before. We have weekly salad, sandwich, and wrap specials that change out as well, which keeps our menu fresh and exciting. Yet another fact adding to our uniqueness is that we make everything from scratch. Everything from cookies, our bread, soup, dressings, and so much more are made fresh in our commissary kitchen from the most basic, yet high quality, ingredients.

What is the story behind how Spoons got its start?

Spoons was founded by Tom Stoner in 2003. The concept of ten unique soups every day was important, because as a chef, an individual can get tired of making the same menu day after day. The consistent evolution of the menu allowed for the creative juices to constantly stir, keeping the job interesting and fun. Furthermore, soup was something that Tom is particularly passionate about. It is one of the few foods that almost every culture around the world has their own version of. The opportunity for new menu items is endless. He chose Fort Collins to establish the business because he believed it was a great place to raise a family and enjoy a wonderful quality of life.

Let's get to know Tom a little better...

Tom grew up in rural Pennsylvania helping his family work in a local banquet hall and this is where his passion for food began. He later went to the Culinary Institute of America where he started his culinary career. His path took him across the country to places such as Dallas, the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia, Durango, Keystone, St. Thomas in the Caribbean, the Mauna Lani Bay Resort in Hawaii, and many other places. He has owned a coffee company in Seattle and a BBQ business in Pennsylvania. Finally, he settled in Fort Collins and founded Spoons.

What do you want visitors to experience at Spoons?

Quality, community, and amazing customer service.

Spoons, Soups Salads & Sandwiches

Address: 172 N. College Ave Suite B Fort Collins, CO 80524
Phone: (970) 493-6800
Email: contact@espoons.com
Hours of Operation: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Website: www.espoons.com
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/espoons
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/espoons