Blackbelly Market Makes Its Denver Debut on March 14

"We're thrilled to be in Denver, which we've never done before," says Lauren Feder Rosenberg, co-owner and director of communications for Little Piggy Hospitality, which includes Santo and Blackbelly in Boulder as well as its first Denver venture, Blackbelly Market, set to open at 7 a.m. on Thursday, March 14.

The group was already looking into possible expansion ideas when the perfect fit came along. Bill Miner opened the Il Porcellino Salumi retail shop and deli at 4334 West 41st Avenue in 2015, creating a neighborhood favorite for not only cured meats, but some of the best sandwiches in the city. But on January 27, Miner closed the shop for good. "My wholesale business is growing so quickly on a national level that I need to focus all of my attention on it moving forward," he says of the decision.

Before closing, he approached Feder Rosenberg and her husband, chef Hosea Rosenberg, about potentially taking over the space on Tennyson. "We were starting to brainstorm how to produce more cured meats in the space we had, so the timing was pretty fortuitous," Feder Rosenberg notes. "That's what makes this really special and cool. Bill sought us out. He has a direction he's going in, and we're able to come in and do something similar and carry the torch."
Blackbelly's original Boulder location is celebrating a decade in business this year following a big 2023 expansion that includes private dining spaces for its fine-dining restaurant operations and a bigger market. "In the last year, we really feel like we've matured," Feder Rosenberg says. "We feel very confident being able to do this at this point in time."

When Michelin released its first Colorado guide last September, Blackbelly was honored as a recommended restaurant and awarded a green star for its sustainability practices. Its butcher, Kelly Kawachi, was also named winner of the Colorado Culinary Professional award.

At the Denver shop, Blackbelly's charcuterie, salami and salumi from Kawachi and her team will be the focus. There will also be artisan grocery goods and a charcuterie board menu, as well as a limited selection of fresh cuts of beef, pork, lamb and sausage.  The shop will also offer counter-service breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, with options such as Blackbelly's popular breakfast burritos, salads, soups and sandwiches, as well as Huckleberry Coffee and sweets like chocolate chip cookies.

The Denver Blackbelly Market will not offer dinner, but the team is planning events such as after-hours pop-ups, butchery demos and collaborations. It's also planning to sell and serve wine and beer once its liquor license is approved.

"It's a really cool neighborhood. It really seems to fit our approach. People really care about how things are made and the quality of what they choose to purchase and support," Feder Rosenberg notes. "Everyone is very excited to feel this growth. It is exactly what we were all hoping we'd be able to do."