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.

Development

Whole Foods

BRR, an architecture firm, has filed papers with the city planning department to renovate and open the former Whole Foods location at 900 E. 11th Ave. as a grocery store and restaurant space. The papers feature the Whole Foods logo.

BRR is an architecture firm specializing in commercial spaces. It is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. The paperwork is in early stages and may change before approval by the city.

The grocery store chain closed the Capitol Hill location in November 2017. Since then, the building has sat vacant.

In early October last year, building owner Doug Antonoff spoke at a community meeting, telling attendees that Whole Foods’ owner Amazon has a lease on the building for 13 years. At the time he was hopeful to bring the grocery store into conversations on how to redevelop the space for future use.

Modera Capitol Hill

Milller Creek Residential opened its Modera Capitol Hill building project in mid-July. The building features 197 units, including studios, one- and two-bedroom and townhome units. The building is located at 1200 Grant St.

The building has luxury units, and has amenities such as a conference room, gym, social space, as well as a pool and spa.

Business

Openings

American Grind

Another restaurant from the Avanti Food and Beverage food hall has transitioned into its own brick-and-mortar business. American Grind opened in the Speer neighborhood in late July.

The restaurant, located at 81 S. Pennsylvania St., serves free-range burgers. The new location also features new items such as chicken and pork sandwiches.

American Grind started as a food truck in 2014. It moved into the Avanti Food and Beverage food hall in 2017. The Avanti location closed shortly before the Pennsylvania one opened.

It sells ice cream from Ice Cream Alchemy in Boulder. The burger buns come from Rosenburg’s Bagels and Delicatessen.

West of Surrender Saloon & Kitchen

A new restaurant is taking over the former Marlowe’s steakhouse space on the 16th Street Mall. West of Surrender Saloon & Kitchen will have a Western theme. It will be located at 501 16th St. Mall.

“West of Surrender captures the spirit of America’s great migration west and an identity and attitude that lives to this day,” its website says. “It means: beyond giving up; too late to turn back; leaving failure behind; and chasing chance.”

The restaurant also listed hiring events on the website that happened in early August.

Marlowe’s closed in late December of last year. It had been open in the space for 36 years. It was part of Premiere Ventures, which closed its other three restaurant location last year as well: Paramount Cafe, Govn’rs Tavern and LaLa's Wine Bar and Pizzeria.

Closings

Bella Vista Mexican Restaurant-Lounge

Bella Vista Mexican Restaurant-Lounge has closed at 127 E. 20th Ave. The restaurant does not have a website listed online, and a Grubhub page says it is not taking orders at this time.

Changes

Bruz Beers

The Adams County brewery is coming to Colfax Avenue by the end of this year. Bruz Beers, which is focused on Belgian-style brews, opened its first location in 1685 W. 67th Ave.

The brewery’s second location will open at 1495 York St. and is steps away from Colfax. The building is also home to Wax and Lash, a hair removal service, and Hot Mamas exercise studio.

The second location will feature a two-story bar and back patio.

Colorado Gerontological Society

In June, the Colorado Gerontological Society moved its offices to 1129 Pennsylvania St. in the Butters Mansion. The building is an old historic home.

The society offers services to senior adults such as Medicaid and Medicare, as well as health planning and literacy. It also acts as an advocate for older adults on the local, state and federal level.

Sotto Voce

The new speakeasy opened in the basement of the Jovanina’s Broken Italian restaurant space at 1520 Blake St. Jovanina’s opened in November of last year.

Sotto Voce is a sister-restaurant to Jovanina’s and opened in June. The two restaurants share staff.

Sotto voce is a musical term directs people to use a quiet voice. It is derived from the Italian sottovoce.