Capitol Hill Jelly back for breakfast after a six-week rehab

Several restaurants closed early this year for renovation projects: Jax in LoDo executed an amazing two-week transformation; Parisi completely updated its space; Tamayo spent a million-dollars on its month-long redo -- and the Jelly in Capitol Hill closed for a month and a half to replace its floor. Jelly had...

By Patricia Calhoun

March 14, 2013

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Several restaurants closed early this year for renovation projects: Jax in LoDo executed an amazing two-week transformation; Parisi completely updated its space; Tamayo spent a million-dollars on its month-long redo -- and the Jelly in Capitol Hill closed for a month and a half to replace its floor.

Jelly had been packed since Christina Smith and Josh Epps, veterans of the San Francisco restaurant scene, opened in early 2011 -- but a second Jelly added last year in the University of Denver neighborhood gave Jelly fans a place to go while the owners closed the original project for some needed repairs.

"We upgraded our server station," reports Epps. "Nothing too exciting. Our floor was collapsing under the weight of our massive kitchen equipment, so we retained our staff with pay during the six-and-a-half-week overhaul. Poured a concrete floor in the kitchen (used to be wood), rearranged the line and dish-washing area, changed the back bar and server station and completely overhauled our basement prep area."

The only difference, he promises, is that "our clients will notice will be in prompter, more efficient service."

And you'll find those clients once again crowding into Jelly in Capitol Hill.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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