Dean Peterson, right, and his twin brother Dale, who owned and operated the Bull & Bush pub and eight other restaurants in the Denver metro. Dean died this month at 87, about 16 years after Dale’s passing. (Provided by David Peterson)
The surviving twin behind the Bull & Bush Brewery, one of the longest-serving pubs in Denver, and eight other restaurants died earlier this month, according to his family.
Dean C. Peterson, who with his brother Dale opened the Bull & Bush at 4700 Cherry Creek Drive South in Glendale more than 50 years ago, died May 3 after a years-long bout with cancer. He was 87.
The Petersons were identical twins born in Lincoln, Neb., in 1937 and raised in Denver. Dean Peterson attended East High School and later became a stockbroker.
While in college, he parked cars and bussed tables at the Writer’s Manor motel and restaurant in Denver. Eager to work, and with a do-it-yourself mentality, Dean “got a bee in his bonnet” to start his own restaurant, said his daughter, Tami Beardsley. He and Dale then opened the Bull & Bush in 1971.
In the ensuing years, the brothers went on to open and run Ichabod’s, Toby Jug, H. Brinkers and Simms Landing, now known as Simms Steakhouse, among other restaurants. Dean Peterson would fill in wherever was needed — he once started a band with his brother to entertain guests — in his efforts to make sure customers were having a good time, Beardsley said.
But as some of these properties were sold or were demolished, the Bull & Bush endured as a sports bar, a family diner, a community meeting place and a favored watering hole. Dale Peterson’s sons, David and Erik Peterson, added a brewery to the property in 1997 that has won many awards for its beers.
Dale Peterson, also a stockbroker turned restaurateur, died in 2009 at the age of 72. Dean Peterson pulled back from the business after his brother died, leaving the Bull & Bush’s daily operations to the younger Petersons, who did not return a request for comment.
Still, he called his nephews regarding the Bull & Bush into his final weeks, Beardsley said. His family plans on hosting a celebration of life at the Bull & Bush later this month.
This story was originally published by The Denver Post, a BusinessDen news partner.
Dean Peterson, right, and his twin brother Dale, who owned and operated the Bull & Bush pub and eight other restaurants in the Denver metro. Dean died this month at 87, about 16 years after Dale’s passing. (Provided by David Peterson)
The surviving twin behind the Bull & Bush Brewery, one of the longest-serving pubs in Denver, and eight other restaurants died earlier this month, according to his family.
Dean C. Peterson, who with his brother Dale opened the Bull & Bush at 4700 Cherry Creek Drive South in Glendale more than 50 years ago, died May 3 after a years-long bout with cancer. He was 87.
The Petersons were identical twins born in Lincoln, Neb., in 1937 and raised in Denver. Dean Peterson attended East High School and later became a stockbroker.
While in college, he parked cars and bussed tables at the Writer’s Manor motel and restaurant in Denver. Eager to work, and with a do-it-yourself mentality, Dean “got a bee in his bonnet” to start his own restaurant, said his daughter, Tami Beardsley. He and Dale then opened the Bull & Bush in 1971.
In the ensuing years, the brothers went on to open and run Ichabod’s, Toby Jug, H. Brinkers and Simms Landing, now known as Simms Steakhouse, among other restaurants. Dean Peterson would fill in wherever was needed — he once started a band with his brother to entertain guests — in his efforts to make sure customers were having a good time, Beardsley said.
But as some of these properties were sold or were demolished, the Bull & Bush endured as a sports bar, a family diner, a community meeting place and a favored watering hole. Dale Peterson’s sons, David and Erik Peterson, added a brewery to the property in 1997 that has won many awards for its beers.
Dale Peterson, also a stockbroker turned restaurateur, died in 2009 at the age of 72. Dean Peterson pulled back from the business after his brother died, leaving the Bull & Bush’s daily operations to the younger Petersons, who did not return a request for comment.
Still, he called his nephews regarding the Bull & Bush into his final weeks, Beardsley said. His family plans on hosting a celebration of life at the Bull & Bush later this month.
This story was originally published by The Denver Post, a BusinessDen news partner.
