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, email Kailyn Lamb at klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com.

Developments

Buell Public Media Center

At the end of November, Rocky Mountain Public Media broke ground on its new headquarters at 21st and Arapahoe streets in Denver, according to a news release. RMPM includes Rocky Mountain PBS as well as the KUVO radio station. The nearly 64,000-square-foot building will include broadcast studio space as well as room for live performances. A learning center will be dedicated to Rocky Mountain PBS children’s programming.

“With the Buell Public Media Center, we are laying the foundation for a new era of public media in Colorado,” said Amanda Mountain, president and CEO of Rocky Mountain Public Media in the news release. “In collaboration with partners like the City and County of Denver, Emily Griffith Technical College and others, we will bring a whole new level of community engagement and impact to our collective work to strengthen the civic fabric of our state.”

RMPM is currently located at 1089 Bannock St. in the Golden Triangle.

The new building will also allow RMPM to expand its education opportunities, teaching people more about media. The company launched its $30 million capitol campaign for the project in 2016. Plans for underground parking boosted the price tag to $34 million. According to the news release, RMPM is $3.5 million away from its goal and has closed on all the needed financing. The company anticipates the project will be finished in 2020.

Business

Openings

East Africa Fund

A former Peace Corps volunteer has launched a nonprofit that supports local entrepreneurs in Africa. Founder Samantha Temple founded the organization with nine community organizations in Uganda and Tanzania. The organizations focus on different aspects of their communities, such as special needs children and health as well as poor and disabled individuals.

In a news release, Temple talked about how her experience in the Peace Corps introduced her to many of Africa’s entrepreneurs, who often have little resources and funding to do their work.

“I put both my two worlds together, Denver and Tanzania, with the hope that the right stories, heard by the right people, can change the future for many,” she said.

This year, Temple hopes to connect these organizations with a corporate sponsor that aligns with their missions. For more information on East Africa Fund, as well as the community organizations it hopes to support, visit eastafricafund.org.

Giordano’s

Giordano’s, a Chicago-based pizza chain, opened a new restaurant on the 16th Street Mall. The restaurant, at 1600 California St., specializes in deep-dish pizzas. It is the first location in Colorado for Giordano’s.

Anytime Fitness

A 24-hour gym is making a new home at 1244 E. Colfax Ave. near Cheesman Park. Anytime Fitness is set to open early this year, according to the company website. There are six new Anytime Fitness locations opening in Colorado. Anytime fitness has locations around the world.

In addition to the Cheesman Park location, another location is set to open on East Colfax Avenue in Park Hill. Denver already has two Anytime Fitness locations. There will be 50 locations in Colorado.

Fontana Sushi

Fontana Sushi opened at 701 E. Sixth Ave. in early December. The restaurant is part of a chain with locations in Littleton and Centennial, according to the website. There is a different sushi restaurant in Washington Park at 534 E. Alameda Ave. with the same name.

The space on Sixth was formerly home to Uoki, a Japanese restaurant. It was open for 12 years before it announced on Facebook that it would close in July 2017.

Poke Moke

A new build-your-own poke bowl restaurant opened in Cherry Creek North. Poke is usually made up of rice and sushi-grade tuna, along with vegetables. Poke Moke also offers Korean bulgogi or marinated meats. The restaurant opened at 3003 E. Third Ave. in November.

Closings

Wahoo’s Fish Taco

The Uptown location of Wahoo’s Fish Taco closed near the end of November, according to a sign posted on its door. The restaurant was located at 225 E. 20th Ave. Wahoo’s still has one Denver location off of Colorado Boulevard. The company has seven other locations, including Boulder, Englewood, Highlands Ranch and Lakewood.

Garibaldi Mexican Bistro

After three months in the Golden Triangle, Garibaldi Mexican Bistro closed its location at 1043 Broadway in mid-November. The restaurant had taken over the former Quijote’s space, which closed in April. It was the second location for Garibaldi’s, which is based in Englewood. The original location is still open at 3298 S. Broadway.

Hi*Rise

At the end of November, Hi*Rise announced it was closing on Facebook. The bakery, at 2162 Larimer St., had been located in the Lower Downtown neighborhood since 2009.

“The time is right. Don’t wanna go but it’s time to go,” the post read. “We will miss our wonderful customers, neighbors and friends. You are what we’ve looked forward to every day.”

The bakery also sold sandwiches, bagels and cookies.

Changes

Plant Garage

In September, Urban Roots, a long-time garden shop in the Golden Triangle, closed its doors at 1000 Acoma St. Now, a new owner, Plant Garage, is up and running in the same location. In December, the store offered Christmas trees as well as a selection of plants.

Urban Roots was formerly in the location for 16 years.

Gypsy House Cafe

A former Capitol Hill coffee spot, Gypsy House Cafe, will be reopening on South Broadway. Gypsy House closed at 1279 Marion St. in March 2016, after 12 years in business. The spot is now occupied by Little Gingko Asian Cafe. The corner building was well-known for a large mural painted on the outside of the building.

Gypsy House has taken over at 1545 S. Broadway. A new mural has been painted on the side of the building. Co-owners and sisters, Doniece and Dena Derani, have started a Go Fund Me campaign for the last push to open the business. The pair have raised nearly $3,000 of a $7,000 goal.

The new Gypsy House will continue to host open-mic events as well as live music. For more information, visit the Go Fund Me page at https://www.gofundme.com/gypsy-house-cafe.

David Yurman

The David Yurman jewelry boutique has reopened inside the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, according to a news release. The store is now located in a 1,660-square-foot store in the mall. It opened in early November. The store carries men’s and women’s jewelry, as well as a wedding section. The men’s section also includes a salon, according to the news release.

CorePower Yoga

After the Yoga Pod in Cherry Creek announced it was closing in November, it didn’t take long for another yoga company to fill the space. CorePower Yoga opened its new studio there at 2780 E. Sixth Ave. last month.