Every Opening and Closing This Week: Eight New Additions

February brought twenty additions to the Denver dining scene, and March kicked off with another eight new spots, including a concept to fill the home of a longtime Englewood staple. El Tepehuan closed its doors over two years ago, leaving a carnitas-shaped hole in our hearts. Now, its former space is serving Mexican fare once again as the latest location of growing local chain Wapos Cantina.

Owners Juan and Adriana Gonzalez founded the business in Boulder over fifteen years ago, adding locations in Arvada, Westminster, Erie and Thornton. Last October, they brought Wapos to Denver when it moved into Capitol Hill. In January, it expanded once again, opening an outpost in the former Wendell’s in the Berkeley neighborhood. Now, it’s added Englewood.

Another local business that has expansion plans made its Denver debut this week. CBurger is a regenerative beef smashburger concept from Half Eaten Cookie Hospitality (Corrida, Oak at Fourteenth and upcoming National Western steakhouse the Stockton). It currently has a location in Boulder and was operating out of the now-closed Sanitas Brewing Company in Englewood. Now, it’s open at McGregor Square next to Coors Field, a move that “signals just the beginning of a broader expansion vision for the concept,” the company says.

One national chain also added a new location in the area. Chicken Salad Chick is now open in the Denver Tech Center, marking the state’s eighth outpost of the brand. The location is owned and operated by Maureen McFerson with support from her husband, Luke Hadden; the family also operates the Littleton Chicken Salad Chick, which debuted in September 2024.

This week’s other openings include Petit Chelou at Hop Alley from Douglas Rankin, an acclaimed chef who closed his award-winning Bar Chelou in L.A. and relocated to Denver last year, where he kicked off a residency at the Hop Alley chef’s counter last October. Petit Chelou is Rankin’s first Denver concept, an intimate six-seat chef’s counter experience that includes a seven-course tasting menu.

Over in LoDo, the owner of Society Sports and Spirits has opened Cantina in the former Villa space. In the Denver Tech Center, Keepers Cocktail Lounge and June Gap Market and Café are both open inside the new Apiary Hotel at Belleview Station. In Lakewood, Hong Kong-inspired pizzeria Metro Pie is now serving.

There are three permanent closures to report this week: Colfax & Cream, which had grown to three locations, shuttered its last remaining outpost in Wash Park; Takiza Taco & Tequila Bar is out on Wynkoop as a new concept from the owners of Tino’s Kitchen prepares to move in; and Beard Papa’s, the Japanese cream puff chain, closed its only Colorado outpost.

The Los Dos Potrillos in Littleton is hoping to reopen soon after a March 3 kitchen fire forced it to shut its doors; Odyssey and Jake’s in Lone Tree are also undergoing repairs after fires earlier this year.

There’s more mystery surrounding the closure of Baere Brewing on Broadway. In 2023, new owners took over the spot, and its doors have been locked since at least February 10. A handwritten sign taped to the door says the closure is temporary and to “check Apple/Google for updates,” but there have been no updates posted online, and attempts to contact the owners have been unsuccessful.

In other openings and closings news:

• Reminder: The Dark Horse’s last day of business in Boulder is next Saturday, March 14.
• Denver Distillery recently announced plans to close after a farewell St. Patrick’s Day party on March 17.

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