Business Matters is a monthly column on the changing landscape of business and development in north Denver. If there are any inquiries on new developments in your area, or if you are a local business wishing to highlight an upcoming milestone, please email Kailyn Lamb at klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com.

Business

Openings

Nekter Juice Bar

The California-based chain of healthy smoothie shops has opened a fourth Colorado location on Colorado Boulevard. Nekter will be located at 700 Colorado Blvd., in the same complex as the Snooze restaurant.

The business also has locations in Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch and Lakewood.

SoulCycle

The luxury cycle brand will open its first Colorado studio in Cherry Creek North this month at 265 St. Paul St. according to a news release. The 2,900-square-foot studio will have 64 bikes. It is the first retail store announced for the St. Paul Collection, which will be two tower buildings featuring 55,000-square-feet of retail on the ground floor as well as 165 residences.

SoulCycle classes are in a candlelit room. Dark studios make for a non-intimidating exercise environment, according to the release.

First time riders can take classes for $20. Rates are regularly $28 for a single class. SoulCycle also offers multi-class punch cards.

Urban Putt

After The Spaghetti Factory closed downtown in August, San Francisco-based Urban Putt announced they were taking over the space to open an indoor mini-golf course. The company is projecting that they will open next summer.

The company is helping to restore the building at 1215 18th St., which is historically designated.

In addition to the mini-course and two private 9-hole courses, Urban Putt will offer a food and full beverage menu.

Blanchard Family Wines

A family-owned California winery will be opening in the Dairy Block market in December. The space will have a winery and tasting room with space for 52 seats. The winery will offer cheese plates in addition to its selection of eight wines.

The Dairy Block building is located at 1800 Wazee St. The building offers retail space as well as bars and the Milk Market, which opened over the summer. The Milk Market is a food hall with several concepts by Chef Frank Bonanno.

Choice Market

Choice Market, a local convenience store, opened its first location off Broadway in 2017, and by the end of next year it will triple to three locations. A second location will open on North Osage Street next summer, followed by a third location at 2200 E. Colfax Ave.

The location on Colfax is currently a Chinese restaurant.

Morin

A new French restaurant has taken over the former Wazee Supper Club space in the Lower Downtown neighborhood. Morin opened in mid-October. Wazee Supper Club, a pizza place, closed in February and had been in LoDo for more than 40 years.

Morin is located at 1600 Wazee St.

Morin will feature bone marrow, foie gras and a full potato section on the menu. The restaurant also features an all natural wine list. Natural wines are made with minimal interventions from the winemaker.

Zocalito Latin Bistro

The Aspen-based restaurant is leaving the mountains and headed to downtown Denver. The restaurant is moving into 999 18th St., which was formerly a Baja Fresh Mexican Grill. Baja Fresh closed in 2016. The food is inspired by the city of Oaxaca in Mexico.

The restaurant is projected to be open by the end of the year.

Habit Doughnut Dispensary

Carbon Cafe and Bar and Habit Doughnut Dispensary are getting second location in Five Points. The company is opening at 2200 California St. by the end of this year. It is sharing a building with Woods Boss Brewing and an escape room.

Habit offers specialty donuts, some are made with whiskey and other spirits.

Closings

Yoga Pod Cherry Creek

The Cherry Creek location of the Boulder-based yoga studio announced on Facebook that it would be closing on Nov. 17. The studio is located at 2780 E. Sixth Ave. The Cherry Creek Yoga Pod had been open for five years.

Yoga Pod first started in Boulder, and each location is run as a franchise.

“We cannot thank you enough for all your support and patronage over the years. Thank you for bringing so much love and light to our community,” the post on Facebook said.

Santiago’s Mexican Restaurant

The burrito place located at 2907 Huron St. in the Ballpark neighborhood closed in mid-October. The restaurant still has five locations in Denver, as well as several in the Front Range. Santiago’s first opened in Brighton in 1991. The chain is known for its breakfast burritos and green chile.

Fat Jack’s Super Subs

Fat Jack’s Super Subs has closed its three locations - one in Baker off of Broadway as well as one each in the Auraria Campus and in the Lower Highlands neighborhood. The closure was first reported by BusinessDen. The website for the sub shop has been shut down.

The sandwich shop first opened at 1245 E. Colfax Ave. in 2000 by Ryan, Jeff and Mark Ward. The location is now the Rocky Fin Poke Bar, which opened in July of 2017. Over the years Fat Jack’s expanded throughout Denver and changed ownership twice after the Ward brothers first opened it. Signs posted on the Broadway Fat Jack’s from the city of Denver state that the business owed more than $2,300 in taxes for that location.

Changes

Assistance League of Denver

The Assistance League of Denver held a ribbon cutting at its new location at 6265 E. Evans Ave. on Oct. 11. The nonprofit organization formerly had its thrift store and it’s program services in two different locations in Capitol Hill. The new location will allow the Assistance League to have everything in one location.

The Assistance League is a nonprofit and is run entirely by volunteers. The thrift store, which was formerly located at 1331 E. Colfax Ave., is the main revenue driver for the organization outside of donations. In addition to the thrift store and event space at the Evans location, Assistance League has the Hospital Equipment Lending Program (HELP), assault survivor kits and more.

Councilmember Paul Kashmann spoke at the ribbon cutting, praising the organization’s volunteer efforts.

“The 30,000 hours of volunteer service is truly the epitome of the power of volunteerism,” he said.