The Melt has opened its first location in Colorado, the first expansion outside of its home market of California. (PRNewsFoto/The Melt)
Cheese lovers, this one’s for you.
, a San Francisco-based that champions all things cheese, has opened its first location in Colorado, with four more planned by year’s end.
The first restaurant, at Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree, opened Thursday in the shopping center’s food court. Downtown Denver will get the next one, at 16th and Champa on the 16th Street Mall, in September, followed by locations at the Village at the Peaks in Longmont, Southwest Plaza in unincorporated Jefferson County and Foothills Mall in Fort Collins.
The stores mark the chain’s first foray outside California, company officials said. The Melt — which uses all-natural, fresh ingredients — serves burgers made with a custom blend of Angus and Wagyu beef; grilled cheese melts made with real aged cheese; macaroni and cheese; fries; homemade soups; and fresh salads.
“Expansion into Colorado is a first and exciting step in The Melt’s long-term plans for continued growth. We’re excited to become a part of the Colorado community and look forward to welcoming Colorado guests to our restaurants,” founder and CEO Jonathan Kaplan said in a statement.
Kaplan is also the founder of Flip Video, a popular video camera that he . The Melt’s board of directors also counts among its members Ron Johnson, former head of retail operations at Apple; three prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalists; and Michael Mina, a James Beard award-winning chef and restaurateur, according to a news release.
