Article Contributed on: 5/15/2008 6:56:18 PM
Residents and visitors in Golden will have a few new options when they get hungry. A bevy of new restaurants either have just opened or are scheduled to open soon.
Mark Heller, executive director of Golden Urban Renewal Authority, said, "It's exciting to have some new options."
The new options include Grappa Mediterranean Bistro and Cafe, which opened Mother's Day at 1027 Washington Ave.
Heller said The Golden Skillet will open soon next door to the Faith Tattoo Parlor on 13th Street and Golden residents
Bob and
Linda List will be in charge at Golden Sweets in Gateway Station at Washington Avenue and 13th Street.
The former Hilltop Bistro Restaurant in Golden will be transformed into a burger and salad eatery according to property owner
Sam Kimbriel, president and managing broker of Easy Street Properties.
The historic building at 1518 Washington Ave. is being spiffed up to appeal to the college crowd at Colorado School of Mines, Kimbriel said in addition to Grappa at the corner of Washington and
He said the former restaurant owner,
Michael Chen, who opened the Hilltop in November 2004, was not doing a good job. According to the new restaurateur,
Steve Perea, Chen skipped town.
"The restaurant was getting worse and worse from a food standpoint. When Chen defaulted on the lease, we sent him packing," Kimbriel said.
The new name of the 5,000 square-foot establishment is the Castle Peak Grill.
"We hope to open the near the end of May. We're still working on getting the liquor license. We're cleaning up and fixing things and hiring a crew," said Perea.
Perea said the enterprise will be a family business.
"My wife
Sarah has some hosting experience, I used to work at CC Brown's in California The chef is
Scott Goeringer, whose family owns the Georgetown Valley Candy Company in Georgetown. I have three kids who might get involved during the summer," Perea said.
Perea, who has a Web hosting business, said he would maintain his current Web clients, most of whom are out of state.
Neighbor
Mo Lukens, portrait photographer has a studio upstairs. She praised Perea's idea to offer a basic menu."He wants to create a place where college students and faculty can grab a quick lunch."
Perea said he thought opening up the covered patio space would attract diners.
"It will be a full-service restaurant, we'll have draft beer and be open for lunch and dinner. Prices will be affordable. We won't be selling $9 burgers."
The new phone number is 303-384-0370. The Web site is
www.castlepeakgrill.com.