Thirty-Six New Dining Spots Open in Denver This Month

Thirty-six restaurants and bars opened in the Denver metro area in October, a volume that amounts to more than one new venue per day. This count excludes three establishments that reopened after temporary shutdowns. The influx of new dining options coincided with the closing of several well-known local spots, marking a volatile month for the regional food industry.

The final week of the month saw the Sun Valley food hall Eats on the Platte launch five distinct concepts under one roof at 2500 W. 10th Ave. These new tenants included Wings Social Co, owned by Fetien Gebre-Michael and Yoseph Assefa, and Jama Miami Cuban, a project from the team behind Cuba Cuba Café & Bar. In Edgewater, the Black Box Cafe opened at 5901 W. 25th Ave., expanding its presence from the Edgewater Public Market into a dedicated space that serves coffee, ice cream, and sandwiches in the former Suzette location.

Chef Troy Guard returned to the Denver area with a new HashTAG location in Wheat Ridge at 3625 Crossing Drive. This opening is part of a larger plan that includes a future seafood concept in the Denver Tech Center and a downtown restaurant named Barbara. In River North, Andrea Frizzi opened Risica inside the Edit at River North building. The restaurant focuses on pizzas, portafolios, and prosciutto, aiming to introduce Milanese aperitivo culture to the neighborhood. Meanwhile, Vegan Van moved from a commissary kitchen to a permanent spot on East Colfax, though the nearby bus rapid transit construction continues to affect foot traffic.

Several closures dominated the latter half of the month. Brandon Bortles closed both Nosu Ramen and Abejas in Golden within weeks of each other. The L on Broadway, which had struggled to find stability since its pandemic-delayed start, also shut down its doors at 46 Broadway. Near Union Station, Tupelo Honey ended its operations at 1650 Wewatta St. after nearly a decade in business.

Two high-profile closures drew the most attention from local diners. Park & Co., a Uptown burger bar that had operated for 16 years, closed its 439 E. 17th Ave. location. The restaurant had hired a new general manager and updated its menu earlier in the year, but the changes did not sustain the business. Its parent company, Gastamo Group, continues to operate other Park Burger locations. The Greenwich, a RiNo pizza and pasta spot at 3258 Larimer St., also closed. The restaurant had recently changed its concept from eclectic New American to Italian, and had undergone multiple leadership and ownership shifts.

Maggiano’s Little Italy at 500 16th St. posted a sign indicating it was closed until further notice, sparking speculation online. The chain confirmed the shutdown is a short-term remodeling project, with a reopening expected in the coming weeks. Other temporary closures include Hip Hop Ice Cream and Run for the Roses.