Every Opening and Closing This Week: Nine New Spots Debut

In June, Mexican restaurant Santo Remedio suddenly shut its doors on Tennyson Street after less than a year in business, following the discovery of structural issues during a liquor license inspection. Now, it’s back in a new neighborhood, taking over the former Red Tops Rendezvous space in Jefferson Park. While general manager Luis Enrique Rios said the spot was ready to open last month, city permitting held up its debut. But now it will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, October 18, with a DJ, complimentary mezcal and tequila samples, giveaways and more from 3 to 10 p.m.

Tennyson Street is also home to a new-ish brewery: The former Berkeley Alley Brewing was rebranded as Alley Brews under new owners Chelsea Rhoads and Liz Hess, who are also behind the Body By Beer podcast. Other changes include morning hours and a coffee program, as well as a new liquor license that will allow Alley Brews to expand with wine, margaritas and bourbon. Check it out during this year’s Tennyson Fall Fest, which takes place on October 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Other additions in Denver this week include La Diabla owner Jose Avila’s new Platte Street listening bar, Malinche Audio Bar; Quad Side Tavern in the former Tivoli Brewing space on Auraria Campus; and BOXBOX, a concept that’s serving various salads, boxed up for easy sharing. It’s located on East Colfax Avenue and is planning to open for dine-in once the BRT construction is complete.

There continues to be a growing number of openings outside Denver city limits as well. The latest include Flaming Hibachi Express in Wheat Ridge; the third location of King Buffet in Aurora; the Backyard Sports Lounge in the former home of Bar Elevate in Westminster; and Smalls Sliders, a Louisiana-born, Atlanta-based chain that debuted its first Colorado outpost in Northglenn.

We reported three closures this week. Broomfield Mexican restaurant La Distileria has shuttered after three years in business. One of the metro area’s oldest pizzerias, Guiseppe’s in Bear Valley, closed after more than 35 years in business, though its original owner had sold it in 2022.

Tablón Coffee on South Holly Street is also now closed. It was operated by the owner of Hearth, a bakery that is getting ready to open its third outpost at 5610 South Curtice Street in Littleton, which will feature a complete Tablón Coffee program. “The entire Tablón team will be relocating to the Littleton cafe, bringing over two years of camaraderie to the new shop,” Hearth announced.

In other openings and closings news:

• The owners of Nocturne are opening a Parisian champagne bar in Noble Riot’s former home in RiNo.
• Hong Kong Station and Japon are coming to East Colfax.
• Flashy Union Station mezcal bar Ghost Donkey is set to close on October 19.

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

Openings

Alley Brews (Berkeley Alley Brewing rebrand), 4342 Tennyson Street
The Backyard Sports Lounge, 2841 West 120th Avenue, Westminster
BOXBOX, 5038 East Colfax Avenue
Flaming Hibachi Express, 5800 West 38th Avenue, Wheat Ridge
King Buffet, 13680 East Alameda Avenue, Aurora 
Malinche Audio Bar, 1541 Platte Street
Quad Side Tavern, 900 Auraria Parkway
Santo Remedio, 2917 West 25th Avenue
Smalls Sliders, 1831 East 120th Avenue, Northglenn

Closures

La Distileria, 2255 West 136th Avenue, Broomfield
Guiseppe’s Pizzeria, 5600 West Dartmouth Avenue
Tablón Coffee, 1441 South Holly Street

*Or earlier and not previously reported.

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