Business Matters is a monthly column on the changing landscape of business and development in south 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.
Developments
Global Down Syndrome Foundation
The Global Down Syndrome Foundation opened in their new building in the Cherry Creek North at the end of November. The foundation, 3239 E. Second Ave., partners with more than 40 labs nationwide to research Down syndrome. The building is 54,000 square feet.
The Global Down Syndrome Foundation was founded in 2009 by philanthropists Anna and John J. Sie. It hosts the annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself annual fundraisers, as well as other events and programs.
Business
Openings
Pistol Whip
The owner of Tribe Tattoo on Santa Fe Drive is branching out into the restaurant business. Pistol Whip will open next door to Tribe at 698 Santa Fe Drive. John Slaughter, the owner of the tattoo shop, is building Pistol Whip from the ground up. A sign on the site calls Pistol Whip a new American bistro. The restaurant is expected to open early this year.
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 Ginkgo Asian Cafe. The corner building was well-known for a large mural painted on the outside of the building.
Gypsy House has taken over a 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 GoFundMe 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 GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/gypsy-house-cafe.
Black Mountain Motorworks
Car collectors can now store their vehicles at Black Mountain Motorworks in the Overland Park neighborhood. In addition to storage facilities, Black Mountain is designed to be a social meeting place for car lovers, according to a news release. Black Mountain can also assist in buying and selling luxury vehicles. It is located at 1233 S. Cherokee St.
Fontana Sushi
Fontana Sushi opened at 701 E. Sixth Ave. in early December. The restaurant is part of chain with locations in the Southwest Plaza area 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. Bulgogi is marinated meats. The restaurant opened at 3003 E. Third Ave. in November.
Closings
Makan Malaysian Cafe
Makan Malaysian Cafe closed on Dec. 22. The restaurant opened in 2012. The restaurant announced the closure on Facebook in late November.
“We hope to see many of you in the next few weeks to bid our adieus and for one last hurrah. Thank you everyone for your patronage and fond memories, which we will carry into our next chapter,” the post read.
Makan was located at 1859 S. Pearl St. in the Platt Park neighborhood. Quiero Arepas, a food truck business, and food stall at Avanti Food and Beverage, has announced that it will be taking over the Makan space. The restaurant plans to expand its menu and estimates it will open in early 2019.
Changes
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.
