A Family Affair: The Floradora Saloon

By Jennifer Julia

If you’ve spent any amount of time with the Kane family, whose lighthearted banter includes lively inside jokes and quick quips, you’ll know why their restaurant, the Floradora Saloon, is such a well-loved establishment. The warmth of their family dynamic is reflected in the Floradora’s cozy atmosphere and in a menu that blends traditional comfort food with inspired, innovative cuisine. Both keep customers coming back for more. 

Owners Florie and Charlie Kane were a young married couple when they opened the Floradora back in 1973. “I had just graduated with a degree in hotel and restaurant management,” Florie Kane explains. “And Charlie said, ‘Why don’t you open a restaurant? You could do that.’” 

The enterprising graduate set to the task of securing a location, creating a menu, and hiring staff, taking the helm with gusto and serving as restaurant manager, supplies orderer, and cook. The restaurant was an immediate hit, and a Telluride institution was born.  

Today, the Floradora Saloon remains in its original location and four members of the Kane family work together to keep it running. Florie still holds the reins as the restaurant’s owner and general manager. She bakes all the Floradora’s desserts and enjoys conversing with customers and staff.  

“She’s the overlord,” her sons like to joke. Roscoe Kane, Florie and Charlie’s second son, has served as Floradora's executive chef since 2003. He is a graduate of the Arizona Culinary Institute and has revitalized and streamlined the menu while retaining some of the restaurant’s signature dishes. “I love comfort food,” he emphasizes. “And I also wanted to make our menu approachable from everyone’s angle.”  

Experimentation plays a major role at the eatery. “I keep a space on the menu where I can change things and be creative,” Roscoe says. “It keeps things interesting for both the customers and the kitchen.”  

The patriarch, Charlie, holds a unique role at the Floradora as the “executive busboy” and storyteller. A consummate entertainer, he often delivers stories to the entire restaurant, including ones from the Floradora's past — such as when the Hells Angels made a visit in the 1970s. “Sometimes, when we’re really busy and get backed up, we signal Dad to tell a story,” Roscoe says with a grin. “People really love them.” 

In 2018, the Kane’s youngest son, Hurley Kane, became the Floradora’s front of house manager. Hurley brought a business degree and strong interpersonal skills to the position. He works closely with the restaurant’s staff, some of whom have been employees for more than 20 years. 

When asked if he enjoys working alongside his family, Hurley doesn’t skip a beat. “I look forward to going to work every day, just to hang out with these guys,” he declares. “I like working with family because it adds meaning and value to what I do.”

For many community members, the Floradora is more than a restaurant, it’s a piece of Telluride’s history. “There’s a huge spiderweb of people who have worked here, or met here, had their first date or their first job here,” Roscoe explains. “There’s a real warmth to this place.”

Now, a third generation of Kanes is joining the ranks. Roscoe two children, ages 7 and 10, frequently drop by the restaurant to visit their dad, uncle, and grandparents. “I’d like my kids to have the opportunity to take it over one day,” Roscoe admits. “For now,” Hurley adds, “they’re our french fry testers.”