Every Opening and Closing This Week: New Locations for Three Favorites

There were no closures to report this week but there was plenty of other action, including the expansion of three local restaurants.

Kickin Chicken, a fast-casual concept by brother-and-sister team Ive and John Pham, was a quick hit when it debuted in Lakewood 2020. Saturday, March 15, marks the grand opening of a second location, this one across the street from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. The celebration includes lion dancing and a ribbon cutting at noon.

The spot is double the size of the original, with most of the extra room used for storage and kitchen space, which will help streamline operations at both locations. The new addition has the same menu as the original, which includes fried chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, chicken and bubble waffles, and chicken katsu, as well as sides and desserts.

Nana’s Dim Sum & Dumplings was another fast hit when it opened its first location in LoHi in 2023. After adding locations on Aurora's Havana Street and in Boulder, it's growing once again with its latest in Central Park, near the Stanley Marketplace. Also coming soon are locations in Parker, Colorado Springs and the Golden Triangle.

Changes continue to roll out at Union Station. Last month, the refreshed Mercantile reopened; this week, Olive & Finch opened its third location in the former Snooze space. It's serving breakfast, lunch, happy hour and dinner from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Next up for owner Mary Nguyen: a fourth outpost on 14th Street in the Denver Performing Arts Complex, which is set to open by the end of June. Nguyen also owns Little Finch on the 16th Street Mall.
Three brand-new concepts also debuted this week. Indian and Nepalese eatery Garlic Naan is serving in a former Garlic Knot location in Aurora; Littleton Brewing Company debuted in a revamped autobody shop that now has a large rooftop patio; and Larimer Liquors is a no-frills addition to RiNo's bar scene.

After closing its first floor for a refresh that included swapping out some of its food stalls, Avanti in LoHi is back at full force. Returning first-floor vendors include Queiro Arepas and Bowls by KO. The food hall is now also home to Cafe Avanti, Farang Thai Kitchen, the Pizza Bandit and Eloise, a concept from chef and owner Quincy Cherrett, formerly of 22 Provisions.

In other openings and closings news:

• Central Park will soon be home to Denver's first Cracker Barrel.
• One Concept Restaurant Group has upscale expansion plans. 
• The legendary Mercury Cafe is set to become The Pearl.
• Tennyson Street diner Wendell's staved off closure with community support.
• The owners of Dio Mio and Redeemer Pizza are opening a new restaurant in Wash Park.
• Odell's Bagel is launching a kaiseki-inspired tasting menu dinner service called the Counter at Odell's.

Here's the complete list of restaurants and bars that opened and closed this week*:

Openings

Garlic Naan, 1706 South Chambers Road, Aurora
Kickin Chicken, 13650 East Colfax Avenue, Aurora
Larimer Liquors, 3122 Larimer Street
Littleton Brewing Company, 1201 West Littleton Boulevard, Littleton
Nana’s Dim Sum & Dumplings, 2005 Clinton Street, Aurora
Olive & Finch at Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop Street

Reopening

Avanti's first floor, 3200 Pecos Street

*Or earlier and not previously reported.

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