Business: Delizio's
Address: : 2299 W. Main St. in Littleton
Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon., 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Tues.-Thur., 8 a.m.-midnight Fri.-Sat., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun.
Founded: 2010
Contact: 720-897-6550 or delizios.com
Employees: 20

Interview with Bob and Laina Mickus, owners

How did you get involved in this business?
Delizio's is a café and wine bar which brings together two of our favorite passions: gourmet food and wonderful wines. Although, admittedly we arrived at this concept somewhat by chance as we had originally planned for this to be the site of our organic cookie business, Beautiful Sweets. But given the great location and charming feel of this historic building, it seemed much better suited for being a wine bar and restaurant.

What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
We do offer a little bit of everything, from coffee and daily-made baked goods, to gelato and desserts, to scrumptious lunch and dinner offerings. And oh, did we mention the wine and a gorgeous outdoor patio with fire pit?

What do you like best about your line of work?
The small size of our restaurant lends itself to a warm and inviting family feel, with an opportunity for lots of personal interaction with our customers. It's been real rewarding getting to know so many wonderful people and reconnecting with lots of neighbors and friends who often stop in.

What is your business' biggest challenge?
Starting a new business under today's economic climate has no doubt brought forth many challenges, combined with the usual "start-up" learning curve. But the good news is that we continue to make progress each day on tackling our to-do list and improving our operations.

Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
The First & Last Chance Saloon originally stood at this location in the late 1800s. Since it was located right next to the Denver & Rio Grande depot, it was your "first or last chance" to grab a drink depending upon which way you were heading.

Editor's note: Every week we profile a local business both online and in the print edition. If you know of a business you'd like to see profiled, e-mail hammk@yourhub.com.