Row 14 closed unexpectedly in July, leaving an empty space in the downtown Spire. Now a newcomer to Denver, Uncle Joe's Hong Kong Bistro, will fill that space with a fast-casual concept straight from China's island city, where the only other Uncle Joe's currently operates.

See also: Row 14 Pours Its Last Glass in the Spire Building

Despite the geographical distance between Hong Kong and Colorado, there is a Denver connection: Uncle Joe's is owned by former Denver surgeon Dennis K. Law, who retired from the medical profession in 2001 but has been active in the entertainment industry as a film, television and performing arts producer.

Uncle Joe's is targeting a December opening and is currently hiring staff, including a head chef and sous chef, according to its Craigslist ad.

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