Tom+Chee Brings Childhood Comfort Combo to Streets of Southglenn

Not so long ago, there was a kiosk at the Streets at SouthGlenn called Yo'Cheese that sold grilled cheese sandwiches and other comfort-food classics. In the winter, there was an outdoor ice-skating rink next to the kiosk, where scarved and mittened teenagers made turns around the rink before fueling up on sandwiches. The scene was was practically Rockwellian. The sandwich stand with the goofy name is now gone, but today Streets at SouthGlenn will welcome Tom+Chee, another grilled-cheese specialist that got its start in a tent next to an ice-skating rink in Cincinnati, Ohio, but here has a brick-and-mortar spot by Pho 95.

Tom+Chee, which gets its name from the tomato soup and cheese sandwich combo we all loved as kids, will start its grand-opening celebration at 10:30 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and visits from South Metro Denver Chamber members and philanthropic partners. After today, the eatery will be open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The soup-and-sandwich chain was founded by Trew and Jennifer Quackenbush, Corey Ward and Jenny Rachford in 2009; the partners received a big boost when their concept was featured on ABC's Shark Tank in 2013. The chain now has more than forty locations across the country (with a whopping 170 more under contract), including a franchise that opened in Fort Collins last year. The new Centennial spot will be operated by franchisee Dan Pszanka.

Tom+Chee makes more than twenty takes on the grilled cheese sandwich, including a grilled cheese doughnut, and three styles of tomato soup. The menu also offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.