Former Kazmos Lounge to Become Italian Restaurant

Kazmos Lounge closed six years ago. Since then, there hasn't been much activity in the corner spot at West 14th Avenue and Kalamath Street in the Lincoln Park neighborhood — but a public-hearing notice went up at the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses recently for a hotel and restaurant liquor license at the address. The request for a license came from Adelio Lombardi for Lombardi Meatball Shop. Lombardi, who is also the founder of recording studio and production company Side 3 Studios, says that while the name may change as details are hammered out, the restaurant will definitely be Italian.

Lombardi, who grew up in north Denver (and is the brother of CBS Denver sports reporter Vic Lombardi), comes from a big Italian family with strong ties to the area. "We've lived our entire lives here and we want to bring something special to the community," he says.

Although the space wasn't in great shape, Lombardi says, the corner spot has had a long history as a restaurant and still has plenty of character waiting to be uncovered and cleaned up. "We're putting our name on it so we want to make sure we do it right," he explains, adding that the new restaurant will be very authentic.

The liquor license hearing is not until November; Lombardi is aiming for a spring opening. With the loss of so many classic Italian restaurants in the area over the past few years, a new place from a family with roots in the Denver Italian community will be a welcome addition.