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Seasons restaurant in Durango changes hands, not character

Durango native Ken Trujillo purchased fine dining eatery from longtime owner Karen Barger
Ken Trujillo is the new owner of Seasons Rotisserie & Grill in downtown Durango on Main Avenue. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

Seasons Rotisserie & Grill has been a favorite of Durango native Ken Trujillo’s for years. So when the restaurant went up for sale, he decided it was time to change his title from “restaurant regular” to “restaurant owner.”

In October, the sale of Seasons was finalized and longtime owner Karen Barger passed the torch to Trujillo.

But Durango old-timers need not worry about the frightening prospect of change: Trujillo has no interest in making any significant alterations to the restaurant that has stood at 764 Main Ave. for 30 years.

Durango resident Ken Trujillo purchased Seasons Rotisserie & Grill from Karen Barger in October 2024. (Durango Herald File)

“He's a really lovely man that would like to see everything stay as it is,” Barger said.

While there may be minor alterations, Trujillo plans to keep the ambience, menu experience and highly acclaimed wine offerings largely intact.

All of the staff have remained employed by the restaurant since the sale, and Barger will continue her work as the restaurant’s wine curator.

“I'm so excited to still be here and be a part of this team,” she said. “Being able to keep up with the wine is really a huge passion of mine.”

Seasons has an award-winning wine list and is the only restaurant in Durango to win a Wine Spectator award, Trujillo said, crediting the success to Barger’s years of hard work.

Trujillo and Barger have worked closely since the transition, a collaboration both parties spoke highly about.

“Working with Karen, it’s been fun,” Trujillo said.

While Trujillo wears many hats – he’s a lawyer, developer, investor and former candidate for mayor of Philadelphia – restaurant manager is not one of them.

Seasons is looking for a new general manager. Barger served as acting manager during the transition but is looking to take a step back and focus on wine.

“The only real restaurant skill I have is busing tables,” Trujillo joked. “This is the restaurant’s 30th year. Karen built it and my mission is to ensure it's here for another 30.”

Trujillo said he will be involved in minor stylistic changes and menu updates, a statement corroborated by Barger, who said Trujillo’s most front-facing involvement has been the addition of a few wines to the restaurant’s selection.

Seasons Rotisserie & Grill with a full house in May 2014. Durango native Ken Trujillo purchased Seasons Rotisserie & Grill from Karen Barger in October 2024. (Durango Herald file)

Trujillo said he will primarily handle the financial aspects of the restaurant and act as “more of a steward of it than anything else.” The biggest change he has implemented in his few months as owner has been the introduction of new accounting technology.

Trujillo splits his time between Durango, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, but he grew up in Durango as the son of a local minister.

He graduated from Durango High School and once worked as a sports photographer for The Durango Herald. Photography remains one of his passions.

In addition to Seasons, Trujillo has invested in various projects and businesses around town.

He is working on the development of workforce housing at the intersection of Florida Road and East Animas Road and purchased Happy Pappys, a pizzeria, about a year ago. He is also in the process of finalizing the sale of an undisclosed car wash.

He doesn’t want Durango to become like the notoriously high-cost towns of Telluride and Vail, wanting it to remain affordable for the working class.

“We didn’t have any money growing up,” he said. “We just wouldn’t have been able to live here, which is why I have been motivated to do these things.”

He sees Seasons restaurant as being reflective of Durango’s spirit.

“(It’s) rustic and fine dining combined, which is a good parallel to Durango – rough edges, but sophisticated,” he said, “… Why would I want to change it?”

jbowman@durangoherald.com



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