Two restaurants named after two marine artists, conservationists and restaurateurs will open side by side in The Shops at Northfield Stapleton, making a first-of-its-kind marriage.
Peter McFarland, principal of the restaurants’ owner, McFarland Management Group, is working with Guy Harvey and Robert Wyland to build a Guy Harvey’s Perfect Spot, a casual eatery featuring freshwater fish, and Wyland’s Ocean Blue, an upscale space.
“They are two totally different types of restaurants from the interiors, buildout, decor and menu,” said Darcy Boyd, of McFarland Management Group. “Guy Harvey loves the Rockies and fishing in the Snake River. Peter thought, why not open a restaurant in the Denver area?”
Guy Harvey’s Perfect Spot has a fishing, log-cabin atmosphere geared toward families, while Wyland’s looks like the interior of an art gallery. Both will include art and retail items for sale. Opening date is late August or early September.
“Lovers of Guy Harvey will know the name,” said Mary Beth Jenkins of The Laramie Co., the shopping center’s leasing agent. “These are new concepts, but they’re tailoring them to Denver. They dovetail so perfectly with what Colorado is all about.”
With these two new seafood concepts coming on board and joining the existing free-standing Red Lobster and Islamorada Fish Company Restaurant inside the Bass Pro Outdoor World, are there too many fish in Northfield’s sea?
“They’re all really positioned differently,” Jenkins said. “Islamorada captures the shoppers at Bass Pro, and the Red Lobster is a very different price point and customer profile.”
Departure.
Alex Bogusky, Boulder-based advertising star and founding partner of Crispin Porter & Bogusky, has resigned from MDC Partners, where he worked after selling CPB to the holding company.
“Mr. Bogusky has risen through the ranks of the holding company and become one of ad land’s most famous personalities,” according to a story in Advertising Age. “His departure from MDC is sure to dampen interest from a generation of talent that has admired him for audacious work for marketers like BMW Mini and Burger King.”
Bogusky reportedly quit the ad game to pursue other interests.
“Early in 2010 Alex realized that after 26 years of working in the high-paced world of advertising that he was ready for a change,” said Denver’s marketing man Steve Sander, who worked with the advertising genius on the city’s B-Cycle bike-sharing program.
When contacted for comment, Bogusky declined because of an exclusive agreement with Fast Co., which is writing a profile.
Free ride.
Dallas-based Southwest Airlines continues to show Denver the love (witness the intense television ad campaigns) by offering free pedicab rides and launching a summer sponsorship of events in Skyline Park.
Twenty-five Mile High Pedicabs will be accessorized with the Southwest brand and a “free rides” flag on the back, signaling the gratis peddle power during 20 events downtown.
The airline also has linked up with the Downtown Denver Partnership to sponsor six movies and a concert series in Skyline Park throughout July and August. Southwest has also teamed up with the Denver Cupcake Truck to give away 250 cupcakes during the Saturday night movies.
Eavesdropping
on a woman at the Biennial of the Americas opening gala Thursday: “Diplomatic immunity can be so hot.”
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-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
