The family behind the Western Street Breakfast

It’s all about traditions and pancakes at the Colorado Springs Western Street Breakfast

“They have good people cooking the pancakes now. I was cooking them back then and I don’t know that they were that good,” said Joe Reich Jr. at the annual event on Wednesday.

Reich’s father first began the tradition. Reich remembers cooking with his dad. He helped put on one of the first unofficial street breakfast events, back in the 1940’s.

“It gives me a sense of pride to see what some of his efforts produced,” said Reich.

The tradition started with Reich’s father’s small kitchen he owned downtown. The breakfast has grown massively- drawing in hundreds of people for 55 years now.

“At one point, it was too big for him to manage out of the kitchen. My dad couldn’t crack enough eggs fast enough,” said Dan Reich, Joe Reich Junior’s son.

When there were too many mouths to feed, soldiers from Fort Carson stepped in to help cook.

“We can give back to the community because the community gives back to us. This is really a treat for us,” said Major General Ryan Gonsalves from Fort Carson.

The vision behind the event is to welcome the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo. The tradition also sends off the Pikes Peak Range Riders. This week the riders left for their 67th annual ride.

“It’s really cool to see how my great grandfather made such a big impact on Colorado Springs,” said Hannah Reich, Joe Reich Junior’s Granddaughter.

“It was all about helping the city lay roots and build a strong city. It was never about him, always about others,” said Dan Reich.

The street breakfast is also a fundraising event, supporting local military and their families.