Hearth, a cafe that was our 2025 choice for Best Pastries at a Coffee Shop, has opened a third outpost in Highland, just six months after opening its second in Uptown. This location has a bigger back-of-the-house than the other two, and comes with a liquor license that owner Matt Quinlisk plans to use.
"We will probably do some drink specials — maybe alcoholic beverages on the weekend and potentially, down the road, some evening programming," says Quinlisk. "We just want to lean into the concept that we’ve been doing for the last few years and we’ll expand on maybe some wine nights, but not totally sure what it will look like yet."
The bakery got its start in 2021, primarily operating a commissary kitchen, doing pop-ups and selling at farmers' markets before opening a standalone shop in RiNo. Fast forward three years, and now it's back where it started. "We’ve been doing the Highland Farmers Market for the last three seasons, and we are super excited to join that neighborhood — it’s a place that’s embraced Hearth," says owner Matt Quinlisk. "Farmers' markets is where we really got the confidence to know that we had a product and business people were excited about, so it's awesome to be able to join that community year-round in a spot we really love."
Check it out at the Highlands Farmers Market Sunday.
Blazing Bird, a family-owned chicken sandwich concept that had six locations in the metro area, opened a seventh at 550 Broadway. And Argentos Empanadas, another family-owned venture with spots in Silverthorne, Keystone and Louisville, has now added one in RiNo.
National chains are also expanding in the area. Call Your Mother, a D.C-based operation that first moved into Colorado in May 2023, has parked another Lil' Deli in Central Park. Over by the airport, 7 Brew, a coffee drive-thru chain with over 350 locations around the country, just added its fifth Colorado location.
While some big closures are coming, we're just catching up on two closings this month, both Italian spots. Papa Frank's was opened by the Rizzi family in 1989, but closed for a while because of the economy and then reopened in another location — but now that spot is gone. And the second location of the very venerable Lechuga's has shuttered in Lakewood, but the original is still going strong on the Northside.
Finally, the former Red Barber at the Catbird Hotel — one of our ten best rooftop bars — has reopened for the season as The Rook.
In other restaurant news:
- After almost fifty years, Breakfast Inn will close on June 8.
- Another French restaurant is closing in Lohi. Jacques was the first to go; now Noisette will shutter on June 8.
Here's the complete list of restaurants and bars that opened or closed this week*
Openings
7 Brew, 4789 Airport WayArgentos Empanadas, 3264 Larimer Street
Blazing Bird, 550 Broadway
Hearth, 3617 West 32nd Avenue
Lil' Deli, Central Park
The Rook, 3770 Walnut Street
Reopening
Cart-Driver RiNo, 2500 Larimer Street (after a quick renovation)Closings
Leguga's, 7475 West Colfax Avenue, LakewoodPapa Frank’s, 300 Nickel Street, Broomfield
*Or earlier, and not included n a previous list. What did we miss? Tell us in a comment or email [email protected].
