The creative culinary team of Beth Gruitch and Jennifer Jasinskiwho own and operate Rioja and Bistro Vendome on Larimer Square — is cooking up plans for a third eatery in the old Martini Ranch space at 1317 14th St.
The talented twosome are in lease negotiations on the space with Larimer Associates, but if the deal is sealed, Euclid Hall Bar and Kitchen (named after the historic building) will open as an “American tavern” in the summer.
“Conceptually, it will be a place where I want to go out and eat and have some drinks but don’t want to go to a place that’s fancy,” Jasinski said. “We want a good bar crowd that’s not stuffy in any way.”
Jasinski, the executive chef, said she plans to borrow from pub menus around the world to create the cuisine.
“I love different kinds of pub fare throughout Europe whether I’m in a German pub having schnitzel or a British pub having bangers and mash or in a U.S. pub having fried clams or po-boys,” she said.
The two-story, 4,400-square-foot restaurant needs a full-service kitchen installed plus modifications to the bar area.
“We have as much demolition as we do construction,” said Euclid’s restaurant consultant John Imbergamo.
“We will try to make it a cool, funky place to hang out,” Jasinski added. “And have it be different than what we offer at Rioja and Bistro.”
Deal steal.
The town of Gypsum in the Vail Valley is the new owner of the Cotton Ranch Club, an 18-hole golf course designed by noted architect Pete Dye.
Cotton Ranch, which will undergo a name change, was built in 1997 by Niebur Golf for roughly $8 million to $10 million, said Matt Call, whose Castle Rock firm Edge Golf Group brokered the sale out of foreclosure to Gypsum for $2.5 million. The purchase was financed by municipal-bond financing.
“It will be a very affordable place to play golf in the Vail Valley, with added customer service and an improvement in the course condition,” said Call, whose company will manage the course.
Leasing, not leaving.
The large “for lease” sign hanging in the window of AERA Studios at 2817 E. Third Ave. (and Fillmore) is a bit misleading.
Co-owner David Hintgen assures that the design studio is not closing, just letting go of a small portion of the retail space in an effort to “downsize” in this weak economy.
“Retail has slowed down slightly, so I am just playing it safe,” said Hintgen, who owns the company with partner John Moinzad. “We still have a healthy roster of interior-design clientele, which continues to be the majority of our business.”
The seen.
Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony (Western Conference player of the week), J.R. Smith and Basketball Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley at P.F. Chang’s in LoDo after the big division win Sunday night against Utah.
• Avalanche player TJ Galiardi sending a letter at Send ‘Em Packing in Cherry Creek North on Tuesday.
• Rockies standout Troy Tulowitzki eating breakfast Monday and lunch Tuesday at Dixons. He paid for an elderly gentleman’s breakfast Monday. EAVESDROPPING
A woman at the Cruise Room in the Oxford Hotel:
“I finally canceled my subscription to Time. I just don’t have time to read Time.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Hear 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.
