Marczyk Fine Foods, the East 17th Avenue and Clarkson Street specialty market, is under contract to buy the empty building at 5100 E. Colfax Ave. to open a second market and wine shop this summer.
“We are furiously working on all parts of the deal and are hoping to close the second or third week of December,” market owner Pete Marczyk said. “Very simply, it will be this product mix over there. The sales floor will be almost identical.”
Marczyk is in the process of purchasing the building from Larry and Beryl Baker, who have owned the site for more than 30 years.
Most recently, the building housed Fairfax Hardware, which closed in February after a 70-year run — a victim of tough economic times.
The Fairfax building started out as a neighborhood Safeway store when it was built in 1935, according to Marczyk.
A liquor-license application is in the works so he can open a small wine shop similar to the Marczyk Fine Wines store at the original location.
“Less than 18 percent of our total sales is wine, but it’s an important part of the retail proposition,” Marczyk said.
The new store is being designed by local architectural firm Tryba Architects and will be built by Denver-based Sprung Construction. Great Western Bank is handling the financing.
Marczyk’s on 17th has been operating as a neighborhood grocery store for nine years. It specializes in selling exclusively Niman Ranch meats, as well as produce and prepared foods.
Transplanting.
Heidi Heltzel, executive director and co-founder of attorney Steve Farber‘s American Transplant Foundation, is leaving the post after more than five years.
“It was a bittersweet decision to leave the foundation,” Heltzel said in an e-mail. “I was recently married, and my husband lives and works in Vail, so I’m moving there and am excited to start the next chapter of my life.”
Farber, a well-connected power broker, started the foundation with Heltzel and Dr. Larry Chan after the lawyer went through a kidney transplant with a donated organ from his son, Gregg.
“We’re going to miss Heidi. She’s brought a lot to the table,” Farber said. “But I’m excited about some of the current applicants.”
Farber said he expects to name a new executive director within 60 days. Heltzel said she will help the foundation during and after the transition “to ensure smooth sailing and its continued success.”
The foundation’s goals are “to develop more mainstream opportunities for people to register as donors, to provide education and awareness through community-based outreach programs, and to support medical and clinical advancements in transplantation,” according to the group’s website.
Fan the Flame.
Flame Restaurant and Fireside Lounge at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail is a swanky steakhouse that will open in December.
Executive chef Jason Harrison comes to Vail from the Bellagio in Las Vegas. The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
EAVESDROPPING
A radio DJ:
“It’s such a battle with the crowds to shop on Black Friday, it should be called Black-Eye Friday.”
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.
