Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan is following John Elway’s best postseason play. He’s set to open an eponymous restaurant with a seasoned pro, former Del Frisco’s QB Marc Steron.
Elway opened the phenomenally successful Elway’s steakhouse with restaurant vet Tim Schmidt in 2004. It has hardly seen an empty seat since.
Steron, Shanahan and business partner Steve Mooney have signed the deal to develop Shanahan’s in a new building next to the ReMax Tower at Interstate 25 and East Belleview Avenue in the Denver Tech Center. The opening is slated for the holiday season of 2009.
Steron told me Monday that the new joint would be similar to the successful Del Frisco’s, with more emphasis on fresh seafood and a variety of fine meats. And it’s going to be a big place, says Steron, with more than 200 dining seats in 10,000 square feet, a big dining room, three private dining rooms and a piano bar that’ll seat 100.
Steron left Del Frisco’s in March after a 10 1/2-year stint at the steak palace — and this column speculated then that he would open his own eatery with Shanahan, a Del Frisco’s regular and personal friend of Steron.
Unlike Elway, who settled in Cherry Creek with a satellite operation downtown, Steron likes it down south. “I feel the Tech Center is a city within a city,” said Steron. “I live out here, and it’s where I’ve staked my claim.”
Back to school.
Seven of East High’s Alumni Heritage High 2008 inductees went back to a student assembly Friday — and even shed a few tears. The gang included Earth, Wind & Fire’s Philip Bailey, printer Barry Hirschfeld, former Miss America Marilyn Van Derbur Atler (who received a standing ovation from the kids), artist Tony Ortega, former Martin Marietta CEO Norm Augustine, former Denver City Councilwoman Happy Haynes, and publisher Miriam Goldberg.
Mr. Mayor!
Martin Short as Jiminy Glick interviewed Mayor John Hickenlooper during his show at the Paramount on Saturday night.
The mayor, greeted by thunderous applause, told Glick that he once owned several taverns and, as a result of this, was responsible for introducing a lot of couples.
“So you’re a pimp,” said Glick, getting one of the night’s big laughs.
Kiely’s cause.
Susan Kiely, wife of MillerCoors CEO Leo Kiely, is helping India’s Untouchables through Women With a Cause. She has gathered 35 prominent Denver women to model in the Runway to India party Wednesday night at Coors Field. Walking the walk: Ashley Coors, Joanne Davidson, Jean Galloway, Georgia Imhoff, Melly Kinard, Frances Owens, Adrienne Ruston Fitzgibbons, Denise Snyder, Faye Tate, Faye Washington and Elbra Wedgeworth.City spirit.
Aziz Ansari is headlining the Comedy Works Larimer Square on Oct. 10-11. And he has just been signed to co-star with Amy Poehler in a spinoff of “The Office” . . . Sez who: “Imagine what a harmonious world it could be if every single person, both young and old, shared a little of what he is good at doing.” Quincy Jones
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Husted also appears Tuesdays and Fridays on “Good Day Colorado” on Fox 31. You can reach him at 303-954-1486 or at bhusted@ . Take a peek at Husted’s next column at blogs .
