Every Opening and Closing This Week: Six New Spots and One Comeback

Gastamo Group is behind some very popular Denver restaurant brands, including Birdcall, Park Burger, Homegrown Tap & Dough and Park & Co. In 2023, it introduced the trendy Baja-inspired Lady Nomada, in Arvada, adding a second location in Lakewood last year. Now, the concept has made its Denver debut: The new Lady Nomada is Gastamo Group’s first restaurant in the Central Park neighborhood.

There continues to be a lot of action on Colfax, where dim sum and noodles spot Ma’s Kitchen is set to open on Monday, October 27 (though we got an advance taste of the food). Already serving on the street is Cap Hill Confidential, the latest bar to open in the former home of Blush & Blu, which was the city’s oldest lesbian bar when it shuttered just over a year ago. Since then, the space has been Cocks on Colfax and Poisoned by Me. Maybe this new concept will be the one to stick.

Il Pizzaiolo is now slinging New York-style pies as well as wings and pasta from the kitchen at Tight End — the same space where the PZA got its start before moving to Santa Fe Drive.

Trybal African Speakeasy is a new downtown bar owned by two friends from Camaroon, who aim to share the culture of the continent’s 54 countries through food, drinks and a space that’s welcoming to all.

Openings outside of Denver city limits this week include the Hot Pot Den in Littleton, and the Afghan and Mediterranean halal eatery Maiwand Kabob in Aurora.

Another win for Aurora: the return of Scooters Sports Bar & Grill, which has reopened under new ownership. It had closed in June after 31 years in business, but much of the staff has returned to the revamped space that hosts regular events, including Karaoke Tuesdays and a Halloween bash set to take place on Saturday, October 25, from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

We also reported a pair of closures this week, as Brider shuttered on Platte Street and nearby mezcal bar Ghost Donkey kicked the bucket on Wewatta Street.

In other openings and closings news:

• Reminder: Pete’s University Park Cafe is closing on November 9.
• Truffle Cheese has closed its shop but is continuing to offer boards and classes online.
• South Denver food hall Junction Food & Drink has been revamped under new management.
• Biker Jim’s will once again have a brick-and-mortar location when it debuts at Avanti next month.

Here’s the complete list of restaurants and bars that opened and closed this week*:

Openings

Cap Hill Confidential, 1526 East Colfax Avenue
Il Pizzaiolo, 1501 East Colfax Avenue
The Hot Pot Den, 5934 South Kipling Parkway, Littleton
Lady Nomada, 7301 East 29th Avenue
Maiwand Kabob, 10551 East Garden Drive, Aurora
Scooters Sports Bar & Grill (reopened under new ownership), 13698 East Alameda Avenue, Aurora
Trybal African Speakeasy, 1670 Champa Street

Closures

Brider, 1644 Platte Street
Ghost Donkey, 1750 Wewatta Street

*Or earlier and not previously reported.’

Know of something we missed? Email cafe@westword.com.