A prime steak or an overpriced ho-hum airline sandwich for a travel meal?
Elway’s, the über popular steakhouse in Cherry Creek and downtown Denver, will open another outlet at Denver International Airport during the fourth quarter of next year, pending lease negotiations and Denver City Council approval.
David Mosteller, a DIA restaurant concessionaire since the airport opened, was selected as the licensee by Elway’s co-owners, longtime restaurateur Tim Schmidt and former Broncos great John Elway, Colorado’s most famous resident.
The airport and Mosteller, head of Skyport Cos., are in lease negotiations for a space in the central area of Concourse B, where United Airlines has its gates.
When the lease is signed and City Council has given the OK, demolition on existing retailers in the space will move forward.
“We’re going to offer the fine-dining experience in an airport that we think has been needed, and this is a great opportunity,” Mosteller said. Skyport has found a cutlery company that makes plastic steak knives, a Transportation Security Administration requirement.
“(Elway’s executive chef) Tyler Wiard said during one of the oral presentations, . . . ‘You don’t need a knife to cut an Elway’s steak,’ ” Mosteller said.
Elway’s co-owner Schmidt said he and the Hall of Fame quarterback chose Mosteller’s group from several companies that pitched an airport location.
“We thought David, being a local operator, would operate the restaurant well,” Schmidt said. “The materials he will use to build the space will be first class and presented to the public in a positive way,” Schmidt said. “If you have people from all over the world seeing your brand, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”
DIA spokeswoman Jenny Schiavone said Elway’s was selected through a request-for-proposal process for an airport-concessions contract.
Elway’s DIA will operate under a licensing agreement, much like the arrangement with the Elway’s in the Ritz Carlton Denver, where the Ritz hires and trains the staff and Elway’s Cherry Creek executive chef Wiard approves the menu. The Ritz pays Elway’s a licensing fee.
Elway’s is expecting to open a third outlet on or about Nov. 21 inside The Lodge at Vail. That location will be company-owned.
Monster mash.
Gary Kelly, chief executive of Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, revealed his much-anticipated Halloween costume Monday, becoming Dr. Frankenstein’s monster for the day.
“It’s been a big hit — many think his best yet,” said Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz. “It’s just a classic costume that allows him to go big and have fun with it.”
The low-fare air carrier’s obsession with Halloween dates back to the airline’s beginning in the 1970s. Kelly has dressed up in costume since he joined Southwest in 1986, but his outfits have garnered more attention since he became CEO in 2005, when he came to work as Gene Simmons from Kiss.
Kelly’s past character portrayals have included Wild Bill Hickok, Capt. Jack Sparrow, Edna Turnblad, Woody from Toy Story and Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top.
Eavesdropping
on two women discussing the decorations above the bar at the Denver Press Club during a book signing for former Rocky Mountain News television reporter Dusty Saunders.
“What is that stuff?”
“Halloween decorations.”
“Oh, thank God. I thought it was Christmas already.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
