Hearthstone Restaurant in Breckenridge Sold After 36 Years

New owners Kimberly and David Salmon plan to continue Hearthstone's tradition while adding a fine wine program.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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After 36 years of ownership, Dick Carleton and Alexandra Storm have sold the Hearthstone Restaurant in Breckenridge, Colorado to Kimberly and David Salmon, a lawyer duo from Florida who have been frequent visitors to the area. The Salmons plan to maintain Hearthstone's beloved menu items and positive work culture while adding a new fine wine program to the restaurant.

Why it matters

The sale of the Hearthstone Restaurant, a Breckenridge institution, marks the end of an era for the local food scene. However, the new owners have pledged to uphold the restaurant's traditions while also putting their own stamp on it, which will be of interest to the community that has supported Hearthstone for over three decades.

The details

Carleton and Storm created the Hearthstone Restaurant in 1989, around eight years after Carleton began working for Storm at one of her other restaurants, Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant. The Salmons, who have been visiting Summit County for the last 25 years and moved to Breckenridge around 2022, said they were drawn to the historic aspect of the Kaiser Home, which was occupied by the Kaiser family in the late 1800s and the early 1900s. The Salmons plan to roll out a fine wine program around the spring and are also eyeing new menu items, though those won't be coming this ski season but possibly in the spring or summer.

  • Hearthstone Restaurant was created by Dick Carleton and Alexandra Storm in 1989.
  • The Salmons moved to Breckenridge around 2022.
  • The Salmons plan to roll out a fine wine program around the spring.

The players

Dick Carleton

One of the former owners of Hearthstone Restaurant, who first landed in Breckenridge with 'maybe a hundred dollars' in his pocket and was given the opportunity to become a business owner by Alexandra Storm.

Alexandra Storm

One of the former owners of Hearthstone Restaurant, who is described as a 'quietly awesome' member of the community whose generosity shines through her businesses and her foundation, the Jane Alexandra Storm Foundation.

Kimberly and David Salmon

The new owners of Hearthstone Restaurant, a lawyer duo from Florida who have been frequent visitors to the Breckenridge area and are passionate about food, wine, and fostering a positive work culture.

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What they’re saying

“People love going to that building and feeling like they're in a different era. It's just a different, unique experience for people that come to Breckenridge. … It fits so well within the notion that this is a mining town.”

— David Salmon (Summit Daily)

“There's a term in the industry known as the 'Cassis effect,' which refers to Cassis, France. The 'Cassis effect' happens when someone drinks a wine they've had before and is transported to a memory of drinking that wine.”

— David Salmon (Summit Daily)

What’s next

The Salmons plan to roll out a fine wine program around the spring and are also eyeing new menu items, though those won't be coming this ski season but possibly in the spring or summer.

The takeaway

The sale of the Hearthstone Restaurant, a beloved Breckenridge institution, marks the end of an era, but the new owners have pledged to uphold the restaurant's traditions while also putting their own stamp on it, including the addition of a fine wine program, which will be of great interest to the local community.