Ernie's opens in northwest Denver, now it's on to Congress Park

Ernie's will open on schedule today, after a whirlwind renovation by Rod Wagner of the space that for years held 3 Sons, and for decades before that was home to Ernie's. But while the original Ernie's -- which opened in 1943 and whose sign has been reconstructed for the new...

By Patricia Calhoun

December 2, 2009

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Ernie's will open on schedule today, after a whirlwind renovation by Rod Wagner of the space that for years held 3 Sons, and for decades before that was home to Ernie's. But while the original Ernie's -- which opened in 1943 and whose sign has been reconstructed for the new Ernie's -- was known for its fried chicken, this incarnation specializes in pizza. The kind of East Coast pizza that chef/partner Sean Kelly remembers so fondly, as well as an array of appetizing, $4 tidbits (beets, whitefish, mushrooms) that should make Ernie's a popular place for grazing in this northwest Denver neighborhood.

But the partners who brought us Ernie's -- and the LoHi SteakBar and Billy's Inn before that -- aren't resting. Led by Joe Vostrejs, who's been instrumental in revitalizing Larimer Square, they'll be before the Denver Department of Excise and License at 6 p.m. today for a hearing on their liquor-license application for a space at 1222 Madison Street

If what they've done at Ernie's is any indication, any spot they put on Madison would be a bonus for the Congress Park neighborhood.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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