Why Food Halls Are Opening in Front Range Suburbs

Because suburban dwellers in Golden, Aurora, Greenwood Village, and Westminster appreciate good food, and entertainment too

Written by Allyson Reedy for 5280.com- July 7, 2021

It makes sense, really. Multiple fast-casual eateries clustered together under one roof with a shared dining area originated in suburban malls—remember food courts?—so the “trend” of opening food halls in the ’burbs isn’t as revolutionary as it may seem. New or not, it’s happening all over the non-Denver Front Range. Food halls, so often associated with urban settings, are popping up in Golden, Aurora, Greenwood Village, and Westminster.

“My interest over the last couple years has been the periphery and underserved neighborhoods. A lot of these places have been overlooked. As people move out to the suburbs who’ve spent their time in downtown Denver, they still have the same sensibilities and interests. They want good food in a gathering spot,” says Mark Shaker, the developer behind Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace, Golden’s the Golden Mill, and Capitol Hill’s Broadway Market.

Shaker’s next suburban food hall—the recently announced Westminster Alley—will open next May in the redevelopment of the former Westminster Mall site. The 12,000-square-foot space will have five food stalls and a self-pour wall for beer, wine, and cocktails. Shaker is working with the city on common consumption permitting so that food hall-goers can take their drinks out into the development’s central square. As for the food, Shaker says the lineup of culinary tenants is still to be determined but will once again tap partner Jesusio Silva for a concept or two. (Silva runs restaurants out of all of Shaker’s halls, which serve everything from sushi and ramen to tacos.)

“I’m excited for the project,” Shaker says. “Westminster has the opportunity to create a distinctive cool spot between Denver and Boulder. I’m bullish on the neighborhood. I think there’s going to be a lot of movement to the periphery and finding those underserved areas. People [living in the suburbs] want what they enjoyed downtown, but don’t want to go downtown anymore.”

Read the article the full article here.

New Listing- Gorgeous 5 bedroom in Westminster

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About the Neighborhood:

The Ranch Reserve is located adjacent to The Ranch Country Club, the only private golf club in Westminster. The club boasts an acclaimed Dick Phelps-designed 18-hole course, outdoor pool, indoor and outdoor tennis courts and extensive banquet facilities.

Homes within the exclusive Ranch Reserve range in value from $650,000 to $2 million.
The neighborhood, located near 120th Avenue and Federal Blvd., offers stunning views of the Rocky Mountains, well-tended flowerbeds and common areas.  Among the wildlife often spotted around this retreat off the beaten path are foxes, raccoons, eagles and owls.

Find out what The Ranch Country Club has to offer here.

☆ View the virtual tour of this home here.

☆ Find the Zillow listing here.

 

A year-long moratorium enacted by Westminster City Council due to sewer system threats

Early last week, Westminster City Council was briefed on the city’s sewer capacity, age, and condition issues.  In light of that, the City Council unanimously adopted an emergency ordiance that freezes acceptance of new, large scale, development proposals in the area served by the Big Dry Creek network for up to a year.

“The (sewer) system is now at a trigger point of risk that warrants both near-term mitigation measures, as well as longer-term expansion to support continued development,” a staff memo recommending the emergency ordinance read.  “Not addressing these system constraints is believed to compromise the health, safety, and welfare of the community with a level of risk that is not acceptable.”

Westminster-wastewater

Things to note about the freeze:

  • the moratorium applies to new development applications that would increase flows into the Big Dry Creek network
  • home reno’s or projects that will not add to the sewage flows will not be subject to the freeze
  • applications and pre-applications submiteed prior to the moratorium taking effect will be honored
  • the city will lift the moratorium before 12 months if possible, but its sewer contractor is expected to need 9 months to access the system
  • sewer rate hikes and municipal debt are expected to cover the costs of the emergency

To read the full article by The Denver Post, click here.