After pandemic-related delays, a new chef-driven food hall is set to open in Denver’s Colorado Center in October.
The 12,200-square-foot Junction Food & Drink will feature a collection of artisanal stalls in addition to Denver-based Sonder Coffee and Tea and the project’s signature, 40-foot, indoor/outdoor Junction Bar.
Local and national restaurants that will be part of the launch include:
- Big Wave Taco Shop– Denver-based TAG Restaurant Group, founded by Chef Troy Guard, will offer nachos, quesadillas, tacos and more.
- Bird on a Wire Southern Chick’n– The Garner Brothers will offer Southern favorites like their Nashville Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Tenders and Southern Smoked Wings with tasty sides like Mac & Cheese, Fried Pickles, Waffle Fries and Coleslaw.
- Ebisu Ramen and Sushi– Chef Soon Choi, head chef at Sushi Den, will showcase sushi rolls, sushi bowls, ramen and a selection of small plates.
- Grind and Grill Burger– Restaurateur Dave Garner and his sons will serve up fresh, made-to-order burgers with unique twists, hand-cut fries and shakes at their family-owned stall.
- Lazo Empanadas– François Saber’s Lazo Empanadas are traditional Argentinian and farm-fresh.
- Miner’s Meat and Cheese– Chase and Melissa Devitt’s stall will offer cured meats and finer cheeses in addition to salads, sandwiches and shareables.
- Paciugo Gelato– Traditional gelati and sorbetti with the freshest fruits and all-natural ingredients.
- Pete’s-A-Pie of Denver– Longtime Washington, D.C. pizza operator Joel Mehr will introduce Denverites to his chef-driven New Haven-style pizza – by the slice and whole.
- Shawarma Shack– Guests will have a front-row seat to unique food theater with Chef Yaser Khalaf’s slow-cooked meats roasting on spits in the window.
- Smok Barbeque– Bill Espiricueta and the Smok team focus on classic barbecue from across the country with special notes from Kansas City and Austin, Texas.
Finally, the Junction Bar hopes to make its mark as a gathering space for happy hours and other get-togethers. It links the food hall to a 4,000-square-foot outdoor patio. Its size will allow for social distancing. Once virus-related restrictions are lifted, the patio will hold up to 160 guests, and the combined indoor and outdoor seating will accommodate more than 400 guests.
In addition to dine-in service, Junction will offer curbside pickup and delivery through DoorDash and Grubhub. Guests can also easily order online directly from Junction Food and Drink, park in designated spaces and have their food safely brought out to their car.
In addition to adhering to all federal, state and local guidelines, Junction has implemented enhanced sanitization measures. Current procedures include requiring team members to wear masks at all times and doubling the original planned size of cleaning staff. As for guests, they can order using a QR code at their table and receive a text when their food is ready to be picked up. Guests, too, are required to wear masks when not eating or drinking.
