Every Opening and Closing This Week: Sushi by SYC Gets in the Swim

The wait is over: Sushi at SYC (aka Sushi Temaki) is opening today, July 19, although one of our most anticipated restaurants of the year is planning a slow ramp-up over the next few months, starting with single seatings every night in the beautiful space off Colorado Boulevard that neighbors sibling Bronze Empire.

“Thank you all for your incredible patience over the past two years as we’ve transitioned and worked tirelessly to make @ms.syc dream a reality,” reads the Sushi at SYC opening announcement. “We can’t wait to serve you a fantastic, curated menu that we have meticulously crafted.”

This isn’t the only new concept coming from One Concept Restaurant Group. The under-the-radar company’s portfolio started with Go Fish Sushi, the casual sushi restaurant that Qun “Ben” Zheng, a Chinese immigrant and sushi chef, opened at 1 Broadway in 2017 with Shuang “Sherry” Crossland, who is now the face of OCRG. With SYC Concept, the group now has a slate of high-profile offerings coming, starting with Sushi at SYC, along with SYC Blossom coming to LoHi and SYC Omakase in Cherry Creek North.

Talk about high-profile: Rose is now in full bloom on top of The Penrose apartment complex, bringing RiNo its highest rooftop bar – with incredible views of the mountains, downtown and points beyond. The second half of the Rose & Thorn concept, a subterranean speakeasy-style bar, is slated to open around September.

Also flying high are three new outposts of local independent restaurants at Denver International Airport, all dedicated at a ribbon-cutting Thursday: The Bindery, Maria Empanada and Uncle. (Tommy Lee, who opened the original Uncle in LoHi thirteen years ago, is partnering on a new concept at the Stanley this fall.)

This week saw another new spot opening at 1222 Madison Street: Briar Patch, from Kent Dawson, co-owner of Briar Common Brewery and Eatery in Jefferson Park. It’s taken over for Crêpes ‘n Crêpes, which left Cherry Creek for Congress Park. Before Crêpes ‘n Crêpes moved in, the space was briefly home to a second outpost of Billy’s Inn, after eleven years as the first TAG Burger Bar.

TRVE Brewing issued last call last Saturday, but Music City Hot Chicken is still serving at its home at 227 Broadway, with hopes of staying in the space past July. The construction on East Colfax Avenue claimed another victim: La Clare’s Patisserie closed its doors, but has plans for a new kitchen concept.

And finally, a couple of chains gave up the ghost: Hooters closed its Park Meadows location, and California Pizza Kitchen left the Cherry Creek Shopping Center – after 25 years!

In other restaurant news:

• Gil Asakawa served up his ten favorite spots for sushi in metro Denver.
• Berkeley Alley Alley Beer Co. has new owners; toast them at the Tennyson Street Fair this weekend.
• You can get a taste of The Berg, Westminster’s upcoming food hall, when Shoenberg Farm hosts an ice cream social July 20.

Now keep reading for all the restaurant openings and closings this week.*

Openings

Art Club Coffee, 3659 Navajo Street
The Bindery, Denver International Airport
Briar Patch, 1222 Madison Street
Just Kool Jamaican Kitchen, 2000 South Colorado Boulevard (inside Junction Food and Drink)
Maria Empanada, Denver International Airport
Merced Cafe and Bar, 9890 West Girton, Lakewood
Rose, 1740 36th Street
Spice Hub and Fox Point Pizzeria, 19795 West Jewell, Lakewood
Sushi by SYC, 1573 South Colorado Boulevard
Uncle, Denver International Airport

Closings

California Pizza Kitchen, 3000 East First Avenue
Hooters, 8334 South Willow Street, Lone Tree
La Clare’s Patisserie, 2260 East Colfax Avenue
TRVE Brewing Company, 227 Broadway

*or earlier, and not included on an earlier list.

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