Business Happenings Around The ‘Hood
Cherry Tomato Turns 20
Twenty years ago The Titanic was released in theaters, Dolly the Sheep was cloned, Roy Romer was governor of Colorado, Nokia owned the fledgling mobile phone market, and Mike Tyson bit part of Evander Holyfield’s ear off in the third round of a WBA Heavyweight title fight.
In other news, The Cherry Tomato first opened its doors, at 23rd Avenue and Dexter Street. Since 1997, Chef/Owner Thomas Felese has been serving saltimbocca, carbonara, ravioli and other Italian favorites to Park Hill fans, customers from all over Denver, and many visiting from out of state – including, in 2015, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl.
Felese recently offered a salute to his longtime customers, who continue to flock to what is now a Park Hill institution: “I would like to thank all of the great support from all my patrons.”
Here’s to another 20 years of pasta bliss.
Chop Shop On Top
Westword’s annual Best of issue hit the streets last month. Designed to highlight the best that Denver has to offer – whether it be food, drink, shopping or sports, three Park Hill-area spots received accolades that are worth a mention.
Chop Shop Casual Urban Eatery, on Colfax at Elm Street, pulled in an editor’s choice pick for Best Restaurant on Colfax. Westword praised Chef/Owner Clint Wangsnes and Co-owner Christian Anderson for giving locals “exactly what they needed: a casual hangout for lunch and dinner where families could feel comfortable and order from a menu that doesn’t stoop to the usual fast-casual tricks but still keeps prices low.” Noteworthy were Wangsnes’s 48-hour short ribs and 72-hour onion soup, and menu flavors that transport diners to Thailand, China, Japan and the Mediterranean.
In that same category – Best Restaurant on Colfax – readers picked Solera as their favorite Colfax eatery. Since 2001, Chef/Owner Goose Sorenson has been serving up dishes inspired by Spanish farmhouse cuisine at the restaurant on Colfax at Grape Street.
Coffee wünderkind
Prodigy Coffeehouse, at 3801 E. 40th Ave. just west of the Park Hill Golf Course, won top honors in Westword’s Best of this year for best coffeehouse in Denver. And it wasn’t just about the cappuccino. Prodigy, which opened last year, is a gathering spot for sure. It’s also, as Westword noted, “a nonprofit workshop where paid youth apprentices looking for a foot up in the employment world are put to work, learning from experience and pre-employment training.”
In other words, as Prodigy’s owners put it, “Your new favorite baristas are apprentices pursuing mastery of life, self, and craft.”
Changes At Govinda’s
Way back in 1980, the Rubik’s Cube was an international obsession, Pac-Man was born, Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington State, and Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States.
Also that year, Govinda’s Garden opened as Denver’s first vegetarian buffet, at the Hare Krishna temple just south of Park Hill at 14th Avenue and Cherry Street. Last month Govinda’s announced that Nandini and Carlos Rossi, the restaurant’s longtime chef and manager, are moving on.
“The plans are that the Hare Krishna temple will assume management and have a new team to run Govinda’s,” the Rossis said. “This will be certainly vegetarian. We do not know at this time if they will continue to be 100 percent vegan. We want to thank you all for the outpouring of loving appreciation, support and well wishes during our time serving at Govinda’s Garden Vegan Cafe.”
Do you have news about a business in and around the neighborhood that you’d like to share? Has ownership changed hands? Has a local shop recently opened? Closed? Retired after decades in business? Won an award? Had a visit from a VIP or celebrity? Send your business news tips to editor@greaterparkhill.org for consideration.
Please include “Spilling the beans” in the subject line of the email.