Denver Home Living Huettner Capital Summer 2017 | Page 31

Piercy jumped at the opportunity. Since taking ownership,
along with business partner Craig Caldwell, Piercy has
sought to build White Fence Farm into a true mecca for
families, with plenty of on-site outlets for entertainment.
additions such as grilled chicken wraps and chicken
sandwiches. Current locations include Olde Wadsworth
Boulevard, West 88th Avenue in Westminster, South
Colorado Boulevard, Elitch Gardens, and the Pepsi
Center, where menu items are offered during sporting
and concert events. Piercy took another step further
into the restaurant business with the opening of The
Coop, which combines a take-out location and sports
bar. Additional locations may follow down the road.
A glance at the company’s website (www.
whitefencefarmco.com) shows why the restaurant has
drawn so much attention in recent years. There’s not only
a 600-seat restaurant, perfect for large family gatherings
as well as intimate dinners, but also a petting zoo, an old-
time photo studio, live music and dancing, a tree house,
and a year-round Christmas shop. After the restaurant,
the most popular feature is Granny’s Sweet Shop, an old-
fashioned ice cream and coffee parlor that aims to please
sweet cravings for customers young and old. Diners are
encouraged to meander around the property before or
after their meal to take advantage of all it has to offer.
Piercy is quick to give credit to his 150+ employees in
describing the reasons for the company’s success. From
“front man” Neils van Leuwen to food vendor Red Bird,
which never fails to deliver the freshest poultry, his
employees are a fantastic part of the whole restaurant
experience. “Many employees have been with us for ten
years or longer,” Piercy notes, “and they’re unbelievably
enthusiastic and welcoming to our customers.”
But the real attraction, as far as Piercy is concerned, is
the restaurant’s signature fried chicken using organically
raised Red Bird Farms poultry
and a unique set of spices.
“It’s definitely not Popeyes or
KFC,” says Piercy. “It’s lightly
breaded and flavorful, yet it
only goes into the fryer for
all of two minutes. You have
to taste it to see why so many
people fall in love with it.”
He points to general manager Whitney Carlos as one
of the true leaders of the
employees. Whitney is only
thirty years old but she has
worked at White Fence Farms
for over half her life, starting
out as a busser at the age of
fourteen. “She is the epitome of
our employees, who cherish the
people who come in and truly
love what they do,” says Piercy.
« Many employees have
been with us for ten
years or longer,” Piercy
notes, “and they’re
unbelievably enthusiastic
and welcoming to
our customers. »
The fried chicken meals are
served with generous side
portions, including a delicious
bean salad, freshly made
coleslaw, mashed potatoes
with homemade gravy, and
creamy cottage cheese. Other
items on the country-style
menu include steak, pork
chops, Thanksgiving turkey
dinner, and even fish selections.
The restaurant has also added some entrée salads as
healthy options for vegetarian diners and has expanded
its wine list substantially to appeal to millennials.
Piercy bought the property
in part to promote a principle
he has held near and dear
to his heart since those days
many years ago eating a