Larimer Associates, the group that’s conquering local stomachs one neighborhood at a time, is poised to open a pizzeria in the old 3 Sons space at 2915 W. 44th Ave.
“We bought it. We’re going to remodel it and open up another neighborhood establishment,” said Larimer Associates chief operating officer Joe Vostrejs.
The new place, which aims to open before the end of the year, is befitting a business plan that Vostrejs and business partner Jeff Hermanson have been following.
The twosome, who own Larimer Square, have their feet planted firmly in the real-estate business with an eye on opportunities to acquire old neighborhood buildings, partner with chefs, refurbish the properties, then back off from the whisk wizards.
“It’s important to point out that we’re not really in the restaurant business but we’re partners with chefs,” Vostrejs said. “Every one of our relationships is different. We adjust according to the needs of the partners in the deal.”
On Larimer Square, Larimer Associates helped finance Rioja and Bistro Vendome, majority owned and operated by chef Jennifer Jasinski and Beth Gruitch, and the more recently opened TAG, run by chef Troy Guard.
Chef Sean Kelly is the operating partner at LoHi Steak Bar at West 32nd Avenue and Tejon Street, Larimer’s most recent eatery.
The Larimer boys are taking that relationship a step further by adding the pizza place to Kelly’s workload, again as operating partner.
“We said if we’re going to buy this building and like the location, what belongs here? A New York pizza place,” Vostrejs said.
Kelly, who earned his chef stripes in Denver as the owner of Aubergine and Somethin’ Else, plans to serve authentic New York-style thin-crust pizza in the new 5,000-square- foot space.
“This place will have a strong bar orientation but with superior food,” Vostrejs said. “Sean is working feverishly on perfecting his New York-style pizza.”
Surround sound.
What good is classic music if it’s not played on a state-of-the-art sound system?
Denver-based entertainment-equipment retailer ListenUp is bringing a $40,000 B&W/McIntosh stereo system to Twist & Shout, 2508 E. Colfax Ave., from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday for Beatles 9/ 9/9, a free party comparing the sound of the Beatles’ old albums with the new remastered versions.Costly carelessness.
When Greenwood Village resident Kevin Koritza left a sock lying around, his Labrador retriever Becca considered the sock a snack — twice.
That unfortunate choice of appetizer resulted in two surgeries and $2,500 to be shelled out by Koritza for the vet to unblock the unfortunate pooch.
Becca’s story earned a place among the 12 national finalists for the VPI Hambone Award for the pet with the most unusual insurance claim.
“I consider the experience one very expensive lesson in good housekeeping,” Koritza said.
Vote for your favorite Hambone nominee at .
Eavesdropping.
A woman to a man after he got a flu shot that’s a no-no for people with egg allergies:
“Are you feeling sick at all?”
“No, but I feel like I could lay an egg.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-630 AM. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
