When financial-guy-turned-grocer Pete Marczyk first floated the idea of opening a second Marczyk Fine Foods on East Colfax Avenue and Fairfax Street to his trusted advisers, many looked at him like he was a sack of rotten potatoes.
“Several banks and many of my trusted advisers said, ‘You are nuts! This is East Colfax; there’s a hooker right there on the corner,’ ” he said.
But Marczyk, his wife, Barbara Macfarlane, and his brother Paul are betting on Denver’s Mayfair neighborhood to bring big business to the brand-new store that opened July 21.
“It is a little bit of a rough street,” Marczyk said. “It’s going to take a lot of people pulling in the right direction to make that street work. But the neighborhood is fired up. They’re saying, ‘This is so cool. Thanks for doing this.’ “
Marczyk and his partners invested $2 million in the building that most recently housed Fairfax Hardware, which fell victim to tough economic times after 70 years in business.
The new spot is roughly seven-eighths the size of the original specialty grocery store that opened nine years ago on East 17th Avenue at Clarkson Street.
Inventory includes fresh produce, grab-and-go prepared foods, a butcher who sells Niman Ranch meats, and an impressive array of fish. An attached 875- square-foot Fairfax Wine and Liquors with a separate checkout counter also resides in the building.
“I think it is a smart but gutsy move to open a second store so close to the first one,” said Mary Beth Jenkins, president of Laramie Co., a retail brokerage and consulting firm. “Obviously, they see a strength and depth in the market that would support a second store.”
Wayne Sirmons, president of Mayfair Neighbors, said neighborhood residents are delighted to have Marczyk moving in.
“We are really, really excited as a neighborhood because we believe it is going to be an anchor for East Colfax,” he said.
Hours for the grocery store and the wine shop are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
The official grand opening is set for Saturday and will include specials and samplings from vendors.
Hotel changing hands.
Hilton Worldwide and Vail Resorts have signed a franchise-license agreement for a DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Breckenridge, currently the Great Divide Lodge.
The hotel-conversion project will open as the DoubleTree by Hilton Breckenridge late this year after refurbishment and upgrades.
It will be the first DoubleTree by Hilton mountain-resort hotel in the nation within walking distance of ski lifts, and the 14th DoubleTree by Hilton property in Colorado.
Guests will receive Hilton Honors loyalty-program points as well as the brand’s chocolate-chip cookie that’s presented to everyone at check-in.
Burger boy.
The burger that won the Denver- based Red Robin Kids’ Cook-Off contest is on sale at Red Robin restaurants through Sept. 11.
The concoction — the Mount Vesuvius Burger, which consists of blue cheese, bacon, provolone cheese and lava sauce — was created by 12-year-old Donovan Duggins of Wichita.
For each Mount Vesuvius Burger sold, Red Robin will donate 50 cents to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
EAVESDROPPING
A woman during a breakfast birthday office party:
“I usually don’t drink juice without alcohol.”
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.
