Two Colorado restaurant industry leaders will spend the next six months surveying Denver’s dining scene to find how to improve the relationship between the city and its restaurants.
Dana Faulk Query, co-owner of Big Red F Restaurant Group, and Adam Schlegel, co-founder of Snooze A.M. Eatery and Chook Chicken, were chosen to serve as liaisons in a partnership between the city, tourism board Visit Denver and restaurant financier inKind, the sponsors announced Tuesday.
As a part of their jobs, Query and Schlegel are tasked with organizing meetings between local restaurant owners and operators, the announcement stated. They will conduct interviews and oversee the results of an online survey that has yet to come out.
The pair is then expected to spotlight key problems and recommend ways city and county agencies can help retain existing businesses.
“While I have seen our restaurant scene grow by leaps and bounds in terms of size, quality and reputation, some of the ways the industry is asked to operate have not kept pace,” Schlegel said in a statement. “We’ve all heard the pain points of permitting delays, workforce struggles and razor-thin margins. Now we have a chance to put real data behind those concerns and push for change.”
Schlegel launched Snooze in 2006 and Chook Chicken in 2018, both in Denver. Snooze has since opened diners across the United States, while Chook has three locations. He’s served on the boards of EatDenver and Visit Denver, according to the statement.
Query’s Big Red F Restaurant Group has a roster including Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, The Post and West End Tavern. She’s served on the boards of the Colorado Restaurant Association and EatDenver.
In a statement, she touted her experience in the industry, which she said included working in restaurants since she was 8 years old.
“To me, restaurants aren’t just businesses; they’re community anchors, gathering spaces and can represent the surrounding culture,” Query said in a statement. “I’m excited to help strengthen the bridge between operators and City leadership to support and strengthen the health of the Denver restaurant industry.”
The idea of having experts study the restaurant industry in Denver developed after mounting complaints from owners who said the city’s regulatory process was splintered and unconducive for business.
This winter, Query’s husband and Big Red F co-owner Dave Query penned a letter to Mayor Mike Johnston endorsed by other restaurateurs, asking him to institute changes to prevent unnecessary restaurant closures. This summer, Dave Query said he met with Johnston after the letter came out to discuss the liaison role and other potential solutions.
The city’s Economic Development and Opportunity office, Visit Denver and inKind partnered to create and fund the positions.
“Our City systems should be designed to ensure that opening and operating a business in Denver is simple, fast and effective,” said Adeeb Khan, the executive director of the Economic Development and Opportunity office. “This liaison team will play an important role to bring together best practices, and expertise to improve outcomes for our food and beverage industry.”
