Maria Empanada Is Ready for Its Colfax Debut

While there's been a slew of restaurant closure announcements this month, new dining options continue to appear.

The City Park neighborhood lost a number of favorites over the last several months, and the BRT construction project along East Colfax has been hurting the bottom line for many businesses. But there are some bright spots to celebrate. For starters, the former Fox Run Cafe space won't be empty for much longer, as Bakery Four is planning to add a second location there. This weekend, Mama Jo's Biscuits & BBQ is making its debut in the former Steve's Snappin' Dogs space.

And next week, the long-empty building at 2730 East Colfax Avenue will open as the fourth location of beloved local staple Maria Empanada.

Lorena Cantarovici launched Maria Empanada in 2011 and has continued to grow the business ever since. It currently has locations on South Broadway, Platte Street and inside Aurora's Stanley Marketplace.

The Colfax outpost is its first new location in six years and has been in the works since 2022. The small building is located across the street from East High School and was most recently home to Little Beast Street Food, which closed in 2021, and Uber Sausage before that.
The space has been refreshed and turned into a bright, Buenos Aires-inspired cafe. “We're thrilled to bring Maria Empanada to the vibrant City Park community, where families, students and neighbors will discover what Denver already knows – our empanadas are a delicious, affordable option for any meal or occasion, from quick breakfasts to family dinners and everything in between,” Cantarovici says in announcing the news. "This new café is not just a milestone for our business, but a testament to the continued growth and evolution of Maria Empanada. As we expand, we remain committed to our roots and to serving the most authentic, delicious, handcrafted Argentinian-style empanadas to the Denver community, whose enthusiasm for our brand continues to fuel our excitement for the future and the potential for further growth."

Those future plans include an outpost at Denver International Airport, which is set to open this spring.

The Colfax location's menu includes Maria Empanada's signature empanadas in a variety of flavors, including the Diego (braised chicken, sauteed onions, red bell peppers and chimichurri; sweet corn with red bell peppers, Parmesan cheese and green onions; and the breakfast chorizo with scrambled eggs, oven-roasted potatoes, cheddar jack cheese and salsa.

It will also serve other Argentinian pastries such as alfajores (sandwich cookies with fillings like dulce de leche, chocolate and pistachios), croissant-like medialunas and Spanish-style churros. There is a full espresso coffee bar as well.

Maria Empanada's new outpost is at 2730 East Colfax Avenue and will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit mariaempanada.com.