Every Opening and Closing This Week: While Hornet Flies Off, Tessa Lands in Edgewater

Two longtime watering holes are drying up this weekend, but there's a new spot to toast, too.

August 9, 2025

Image: Tessa Delicatessen has opened an outpost in Edgewater Public Market.

Tessa Delicatessen has opened an outpost in Edgewater Public Market. Tessa Delicatessen

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Is help at hand for Denver's troubled dining scene? On August 5, Visit Denver and the city's Economic Development & Opportunity office announced a collaboration that's stirred up some support: a two-person team of experienced restaurateurs — Dana Query (Big Red F) and Adam Schlegel (Snooze and Chook) — that will strategize solutions for Denver's challenged food and beverage industry over the next six months.

The fix will come too late for the Hornet, which is closing at the end of service August 9, just shy of its thirtieth birthday. And on August 10, Pub on Pearl will issue last call after 35 years.

But there are openings coming, too. On August 15, the much-talked-about Town Pump Provisions will debut in Cherry Creek. (A planned August 11 opening of Aloy Thai on East Hampden has been postponed.)

Meanwhile, Tessa Delicatessen, which has won so many fans since chef Vince Howard and his wife, Jessica, moved here from Los Angeles and opened the eatery at 5724 East Colfax Avenue, just debuted an outpost at the Edgewater Public Market. It's in the space formerly occupied by Gladys, which has moved to a larger spot that was once home to Meta Burger. The lineup at Edgewater includes many Tessa favorites, including the BLT (above), the OG Italian and the Brisket Dipper; that brisket is a particular hit when added to the breakfast burrito (you can also get bacon, thanks to that BLT).

And so far, Music City Hot Chicken is still roosting at 227 Broadway, even after TRVE Brewing Co. flew off. In other restaurant news:

Tommy's Thai isn't closing...yet. But the owners are warning that the construction on Colfax could put the family-run place out of business.

Ace Eat Serve is hosting a tiki pop-up all month on its patio.

The first episode of the new season of The Great Food Truck Race ended with a very big surprise from Longmont's Rising Tiger team.

All the restaurant openings and closings this week*:

Openings

Tessa Delicatessen, Edgewater Public Market, 5505 West 20th Avenue

Closings

The Hornet, 76 Broadway
Rhapsody Karaoke, 24 Broadway

*Or earlier, and not in a previous Openings and Closings list.

What did we miss? Post a comment or send information to [email protected].

Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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