Small Bites: Rock Bottom Brewery sued by landlord over unpaid rent

In this week’s food-related news briefs:  

Rock Bottom sued over Highlands Ranch lease

Last week we learned that Rock Bottom Brewery closed its two remaining metro Denver locations, one in Centennial and the other in Highlands Ranch, leaving only one in Loveland left. Now, the landlord of the chain’s Highlands Ranch location is suing the company for breach of contract.

According to a Douglas County District Court filing obtained by Westword, the property owner, Central Park at Highlands Ranch Retail, alleges Rock Bottom violated by surrendering the property without terminating the lease, claiming some $190,000 in damages, with more potentially to come. 

Are we losing another Filipino restaurant?

It’s only been a few weeks since Magna Kainan in RiNo closed. Now one of the few remaining Filipino eateries in the city also has a questionable future. Adobo, the New Mexican-Filipino mashup that began as a highly acclaimed food truck, may need to find a new home now that the building at 3109 Federal Blvd. i listed either for sale or lease. We’re reached out and hope to hear more soon. 

Hopefully, owner Blaine Baggao finds yet another way to pivot. Adobo made a splash in its first iteration as a food truck, winning the top people’s pick and the second-place judges’ choice at Top Taco 2018, then snagging Best Food Truck honors in Westword‘s Best of Denver 2019. Baggao then brought Adobo to RiNo’s First Draft in 2020 and was one of the local food vendors at Meow Wolf’s HELLOFOOD in 2021.  

Sam’s No. 3 demolished

The vacant Sam’s No. 3 location that’s been sitting vacant at the corner of South Parker Road and South Havana St. since closing almost three years ago has been demolished. It’s hard to feel too bad about this one, as it’s been closed for a while and definitely wasn’t coming back, and both the downtown and Glendale locations are still open.

But it is worth a mention, since Sam’s No. 3 first opened on Parker Road in 1998 as the first new iteration of the diner under the ownership of Sam Spero and his sons. The current Curtis Street location opened in 2003, and Glendale in 2013.

In its place will rise a Quiktrip. 

And now, the hail of bullets: 

• After a recent visit to the Squire Lounge, we learned it’s not planning to close for repairs after a big flood earlier this month. But apparently the city has promised to look closer into the cause of the flooding, and has even dug up the sidewalk to investigate. 
• Ace Eat Serve has a new executive chef: Kevin Chu, who was previously the restaurant’s sous chef. Expect menu additions like mapo tofu, and “old school” chicken lettuce wraps coming soon. 
• La Vie En Rose is pushing back its expected Labor Day opening, likely to Sept. 11 if all holds to plan.  

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