The historic Ghost Building, former home of the Rocky Mountain Diner, is in the process of being sold to the joint venture between the Wynkoop Brewing Co. and Breckenridge Brewery for an undisclosed amount.
The 1889-built building, at 800 18th St., will be occupied by a Wynkoop-Breckenridge restaurant on the ground floor, with real-estate offices on the second and third floors, according to Wynkoop chief executive Lee Driscoll.
“It’s very rare that an iconic building comes on the market, which includes the land and the restaurant space,” said Driscoll, who added that the deal should be sealed in roughly 60 days. “We looked at trying to get the Rocky Mountain Diner back in that location, but we couldn’t come to an agreement that fit both of us.”
The diner closed at the end of business Feb. 20 after a 20-year run. Co-owner Tom Walls blamed the closure on an inability to negotiate with the landlord on a new lease.
The ownership, Ghost Building LLC, is led by Denver lawyer Frances Koncilja, the third-floor tenant who will keep the space for her law firm. Calls to Koncilja were not returned Wednesday.
The storied history of the Ghost Building, named for real-estate developer Allen M. Ghost and designed by famed residential architect William Lang, includes a journey from its original location at 15th Street and Glenarm Place to the space at 18th and Stout.
In 1979, the Ghost Building faced the wrecking ball after Public Service Co. of Colorado signed a 20-year lease contingent on demolition of the building.
Denver architect Brian T. Congleton successfully proposed dismantling the 1,700-stone facade stone by stone and storing it until it could be reassembled elsewhere. After six years in storage, the stones were affixed to the 18th-and-Stout building.
Driscoll said a concept and a name for the new 4,500-square-foot restaurant have not been determined. Will the new owners serve up the Rocky Mountain Diner’s signature pan-fried chicken?
“We will ask Mr. Walls that,” Driscoll said.
Kelsey lately.
Actor Kelsey Grammer and ex-spouse Camille have put their Bachelor Gulch ski chalet on the market for $7.9 million.
The three-story ski-in-and-out spread measures 8,230 square feet, with six bedrooms and 7 1/2 baths. When the split couple first listed the home, the asking price was $9.5 million, according to Internet reports.
The 56-year-old television and Broadway star divorced Camille, who was part of the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” crew on Bravo last season, to marry a 29-year-old.
Colson coming to Colorado.
Chuck Colson, former special counsel to President Richard Nixon, will be the keynote speaker over breakfast during a half-day summit April 7 for Colorado business leaders.
The conference, sponsored by Colorado Christian University’s School of Business, begins with breakfast and Colson’s speech at 7:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center.
Register before April 1 at or by calling 303-963-3160.
EAVESDROPPING
One female co-worker to another, about two of their colleagues:
“Why did they both take Wednesday off?”
“To prepare for St. Patrick’s Day.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on “Caplis & Silverman” between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-630 AM. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
