The shelves and refrigerators are stocked with everything from milk to pots and pans at the recently opened Dollar General store in Georgetown.

Several Georgetown residents said the ease and convenience of having a store like it in town saves a lot of trips to the nearest full grocery store Safeway in Idaho Springs.

“Yeah, it was basically a Clear Creek reunion when this place reopened, it was really funny,” Jessica Theinsen of Georgetown said. “Being able to literally walk over here saves me time and money. It’s a really good blessing to have it back.”

The store replaced a former Family Dollar in the same location at 1560 Argentine St., which closed its doors more than a year ago.

In a statement Dollar General said, “It plans to create new jobs in the Georgetown community as the store is expected to employ approximately six to 10 people, depending on the individual needs of the store.”

The Company also touted that it “…Provides employees with competitive wages, world-class and award-winning training and development programs and benefits including day-one telemedicine eligibility as well as health insurance coverage options, 401K savings and retirement plans.”

“I’m really excited to have it back,” Theinsen said.

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MaKormick Claypool, a long-time nursing home administrator, is now head of Life Care Center of Westminster. The Westminster facility is part of a group of 200 skilled nursing, post-acute, Alzheimer’s, and senior living campuses in 27 states.

Claypool comes to the Westminster Center with several years of experience leading skilled nursing facilities, according to a news release. He has a master’s degree in health care administration and philosophy, as well as a doctorate in health care administration, and is a licensed nursing home administrator.

Claypool recently praised the staff and residents at the Life Care Center. 

 “The team here is remarkable,” he said in the news release. “They care deeply, they work tirelessly, and they show up with heart every single day.”

“Our residents,” he added, “are the soul of this center; their stories, their resilience, their joy – it fuels everything we do. I’ve been inspired by their warmth and the pride our team takes in serving them. I feel blessed to stand alongside such incredible individuals.”

 Claypool said his goals are for the center to be a standard for care and excellence, and he is excited about the future.

 “My vision is for every team member to feel valued, every resident to feel loved, and every family to feel peace knowing their loved one is in the best hands,” he said.

 “To every family entrusting us with a loved one, know this: We will care for them like they are our own. We will listen, we will serve, and we will stand by you every step of the way. This is not just a facility – it’s a family,” Claypool said in the news release.

Located at 7751 Zenobia Court, Life Care Center of Westminster is one of 22 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in Colorado managed by Life Care Centers of America.

Founded in 1976, Life Care is a nationwide health care company with its headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee. For more information about Life Care, visit lcca.com.

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A national chain that specializes in showcasing America’s two favorite pastimes – eating chicken and playing pickleball – is opening its three-acre site in Thornton on June 24.

Chicken N Pickle is an indoor/outdoor pickleball entertainment complex with locations across the country. Its newest venture is being unveiled in The Grove shopping center near I-25 and 144th Avenue. The facility marks the first pickleball-dedicated venue in the Thornton area.

Chicken N Pickle CEO Brad Clarke says that the enterprise is more than just a place to play pickleball and is an all-in-one destination for food, fun and community connection.

The expansive complex blends professional-grade pickleball courts with a chef-driven restaurant, a lively sports bar and a variety of games and gathering spaces.

Whether guests can compete, connect or simply kick back, the Thornton venue will deliver an experience designed to bring people together across seasons, ages and interests, Clarke said in a news release.  

“We’re thrilled to bring Chicken N Pickle to Thornton, a community that reflects our desire to offer a space where families, friends and colleagues can create memories and connect through playful experiences,” said Clarke. “Colorado’s active, outdoorsy spirit and Thornton’s strong sense of community make it the ideal place for our next venue. We believe in the power of shared celebrations, whether it’s over a delicious meal, a refreshing beverage or a spirited game, to foster human connection and support our neighbors.” 

Spanning more than three acres and over 45,000 square feet, the complex features eight professional-grade pickleball courts, including six indoor and two covered outdoor courts, for casual games or competitive play, according to the news release.

The fast-casual, chef-driven restaurant specializes in wood-fired rotisserie chicken with a focus on fresh, quality ingredients that are responsibly raised and ethically sourced, the news release states. Lawn games like cornhole, ping pong, Jenga and life-sized Battleship add to the playful energy, while rooftop seating with three unique event spaces (two indoors and one open-air) offers courtside and mountain views. Additional reservable spaces like The Roost and The Boardwalk on the main dining floor, plus two bier gardens and a game yard, make the venue perfect for everything from relaxed evenings to private celebrations and team outings, the news release states.  

The Thornton location’s indoor court building features an open-air design, with garage doors throughout the space that open halfway to seamlessly connect the indoor and outdoor spaces. It will be the first Chicken N Pickle to include windows overlooking the indoor courts, bringing in dynamic new energy and flow to the space, the news release states. 

The venue offers adaptive pickleball programming and inclusive spaces that welcome everyone, from seasoned players to first-timers and families. The company states that Chicken N Pickle takes seriously its role in promoting inclusivity, health and awareness through active participation in adaptive pickleball, fostering wellness, social connection and advocacy for individuals with physical disabilities. All skill levels are encouraged to join, with on-site wheelchairs available to ensure full accessibility for every guest.  

The grand opening celebration is scheduled for June 24, and continue throughout the week with themed events and giveaways designed to welcome the Thornton community. See here for additional grand opening information.  

Launched in North Kansas City, Missouri, in 2016, Chicken N Pickle has grown nationally, with locations in cities such as Wichita, Kan.; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Henderson, Nevada; Glendale, Arizona; Grand Prairie, Texas; and Grapevine, Texas.  

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It’s official: Construction has started on the Red Hotel in downtown Morrison.

Representatives from Root Architecture, which is building the three-story, 22-room structure, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on May 19 at the empty lot on Bear Creek Avenue that sits between the Morrison Mercantile and the now closed Café Prague.

To build the hotel, the new property owners razed the buildings that housed Blend and Morrison Glass. Construction is expected to be completed in summer 2026.

The hotel’s name is a nod to Red Rocks Amphitheatre, according to Zeke Freeman, owner of Evergreen-based Root Architecture. 

“We started two-and-a-half years ago when the property came on the market,” Chad Wallace, Root Architecture’s COO, told about 50 contractors and staff during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “As locals, we are excited to be part of something in Morrison.”

Wallace lauded Morrison Mayor Chris Wolfe for his support of the project.

Wolfe called it a wonderful time for Root Architecture to bring the hotel to Morrison, adding, “We salute you.”

Freeman thanked the other businesses who worked with Root to bring the project to fruition, adding he expects the hotel to attract Red Rocks Amphitheatre patrons and people wanting to use the hotel as an anchor before going into the mountains.

The hotel will include a ground-level café serving high-end coffee and basic breakfast items in the morning, and local wines, beers and light food later in the day.

The Morrison Town Board approved the Red Hotel in April 2024 after often contentious hearings before the town’s planning commission and board. The hotel proposal revealed conflicts within the town’s code and prompted the board to enact a temporary development moratorium so it could rewrite the regulations.

In the end, developers gained approval on a scaled-back version of their original plan. The third floor of the redesigned Red Hotel plan is stepped back from Bear Creek Avenue behind the first two stories. That change is intended to diminish the visual mass from the front to better blend the building with adjacent one-story structures.

Freeman called building the structure on the 50-foot by 120-foot lot similar to filling a spot where there’s a missing tooth. 

“Hopefully, this will be really great space that will add to the Morrison community,” he said.

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Groups looking to boost events and business initiatives for Downtown Westminster will get a $300,000 influx of new funding after this week’s decision by the Westminster Economic Development Authority Board.

The authority board – which is the Westminster City Council – agreed to a year-long pilot program and a partnership with the Westminster Chamber of Commerce.

Both bodies hope the collaboration will bring increased foot traffic and community engagement, enhanced “sense of place” and identity for downtown, according to a city staff report. The partnership – with help from the $300,000 – will also strengthen the local economy, supporters said Monday at a meeting of the development authority.

“I think there is the possibility of getting more tax revenue (through more events,)” Councilor Amber Hott said. “The better our businesses do downtown the better our city does.”

Westminster has been working to redevelop and re-energize the area, which covers most of the former Westminster Mall, since 2011. The boundaries of the downtown area are bounded by 92^nd Avenue to the north, 88^th Ave. to the south, Harlan St. to the west, and Sheridan Boulevard to the east, according to the city.

The source of the $300,000 comes from taxes generated by downtown businesses and residents, the city states.

The planned “activation” of downtown incorporates approaches that have proven successful elsewhere, including Orchard Town Center in the city’s North I-25 Focus Area, the city staff report states. The partnership provides “a targeted, cost-effective alternative that does not result in adding to the city’s full-time employment account,” the report states.

The development authority, the Chamber and Westminster Downtown Business Association, went in together in November 2024 for a holiday lighting ceremony in Central Square in the downtown area. More than 150 guests were estimated at the ceremony, “and the event was a great example of how the city can partner with these business networks to effectively utilize resources and empower businesses to take initiatives in the growth of their local economy,” the staff report states.

Mayor Pro Tem Sarah Nurmela said the two groups joining forces will multiply the energy already in downtown Westminster. “I’m just excited to see this move,” Nurmela said.

The staff report says that the key terms of the agreement with the Chamber include:

• A twelve-month term effective May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026;
• A minimum of six signature Community Events;
• A minimum of 10 Business and Retail Activation Initiatives; and
• A minimum of 12 Interactive and Community-Driven Programming.

The chamber also agreed to to submit progress reports to the authority monthly.

The partnership and funding were approved by a 6-1 vote by the downtown authority board. Councilor Kristine Ireland cast the dissenting vote, saying she wanted to know how many people would attend a downtown event to make the venture successful.

“There are a lot of events downtown and they have low attendance,” she said.

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City officials are downplaying an Idaho-based company’s plans to open one of its discount-centric stores in Thornton.

WinCo Foods wants to build a 84,000-square-foot grocery store on land at the southeast corner of East 164^th Avenue and Washington Street, according to the Denver Business Journal. This would be one of WinCo’s first forays in the Denver metro area. The company reportedly has also approached the Town of Firestone with development plans.

The Journal’s reporting is based on pre-application documents presented to the City of Thornton.

The Journal says that WinCo is known for its warehouse-style supermarkets that feature low prices and a large selection of bulk items. The employee-owned stores are typically open 24 hours a day all week, except for select holidays.

The company’s proposal requires the two properties where WinCo would build its store to be combined and rezoned by the city, documents show. Plans also show future pad sites would be included, according to the Journal.

The area is currently zoned as a business park, which would not allow a grocery store that is larger than 3,500 square feet. The most compatible zone district to develop the property per WinCo’s plans would be regional commercial, documents from February state, according to the Journal.

The Journal article was “quite premature” from the City of Thornton’s perspective, said city spokesman Todd Barnes.

“Winco has had discussions with the City, and we are hopeful to continue discussions, but we have nothing committing them to Thornton at this point,” Barnes said via email.

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José “Pepe” Garayoa has been driving his food truck around the Denver area for seven years. Given that it’s a larger truck and an older model, he said navigating traffic was challenging.

Now, though, he’s found the perfect permanent spot for the Ricas Tortas Calientes truck along South Golden Road.

“I’m very happy to be here in Golden,” he said. “What a great opportunity.”

The spot near Native Nursery, which is accessible via 17025 South Golden Road, may be familiar to locals as the former home of Bonfire Burritos and/or La Huacha.

Garayoa said his friend who runs La Huacha recently opened a brick-and-mortar location a few blocks away, leaving the food truck spot open. So, Garayoa moved Ricas Tortas Calientes there in December.

He said the spot is ideal, because “Golden knows someone is selling food here.”

Garayoa has been in the food industry for 30 years, working in both restaurants and his own food trucks.

He’s now bringing that experience and his own unique twist to the Ricas Tortas Calientes menu, which features tortas, burgers, tacos, quesadillas and specialty items.

While the winter has been slow, Garayoa expected things to pick up with the warmer weather. He’s preparing to expand his hours and start serving premade breakfast burritos in the summer.

Garayoa emphasized how Ricas Tortas Calientes is a family business. His wife and three daughters have helped him with various aspects of the business over the years.

Running his own business has always been his dream, Garayoa continued, saying, “You have to put yourself to work (to achieve your dream), and it’s easier when you have your family behind you.”

Ricas Tortas Calientes is currently open from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

For more information, call 303-881-8376 or visit pepestortasandburgers.org.

Click through additional photos of Ricas Tortas Calientes:

Mobile sauna brings warmth, relaxation to local businesses and events

When she lived in Chicago, Rachel Swanson used to swim in the frigid waters of Lake Michigan, and the best way to warm up afterward was her friend’s mobile sauna.

While mobile saunas are more common in Nordic countries and the United States’ Upper Midwest, Swanson thought Colorado would benefit from the idea too. So, when she moved to the Denver area last year, she launched the Nomadic Fire Mobile Sauna.

What looks like a simple trailer on the outside is a warm, welcoming haven on the inside that can easily reach 190 degrees. Swanson and her family summarized the concept as: “Heat on wheels, relaxation that heals.”

Swanson has been taking the mobile sauna to community events and local businesses, including Golden’s Mountain Toad Brewing and Arvada’s Colorado Tap House.

People can book a 30-minute session in the sauna, which sits six people comfortably. Swanson also offers a cold plunge outside, so people can alternate.

Along with community events, Nomadic Fire is also available for private events, such as holiday parties or team-building events, or private rentals at people’s homes.

Swanson, who’s been a therapist for 15 years, emphasized the physical, mental and social benefits of saunas. She encouraged people to listen to their bodies and hydrate beforehand, saying, “It’s a place of gathering, not a competition.”

While saunas are great for athletic recovery, Swanson hoped everyone would try Nomadic Fire. People can bring their friends, play music and have fun while visiting a local brewery, she described.

A regular 30-minute session is $25 per person, but multi-packs and group rates are available.

Nomadic Fire is at Colorado Tap House every other Thursday evening, starting April 3, and at Mountain Toad every other Tuesday evening, starting April 8.

For more information, including pricing, schedule and private booking availability, visit nomadicfiremobilesauna.com.

Click through additional photos of Nomadic Fire Mobile Sauna:

Cheesecake Factory opening May 13 at Colorado Mills

Those who’ve walked around Colorado Mills lately may have seen the “Cheesecake Factory, coming soon” signs.

The restaurant recently announced a May 13 opening date for its new location at the Lakewood mall.

The new Cheesecake Factory will be at Entry No. 1, on the mall’s northwest corner. It will be accessible from both the mall’s exterior and interior.

The restaurant features more than 250 items on its menu, each freshly prepared from scratch at every location, including more than 30 “legendary cheesecakes,” the Cheesecake Factory described in a recent press release.

Additionally, the restaurant stated it will be hiring more than 300 employees for the Colorado Mills location. This includes bartenders, bussers, cashiers, baristas, line cooks, servers and more.

Anyone interested in applying should visit cakecareers.com/coloradomills.

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A new barbecue restaurant will move into a prominent building just outside of Olde Town Arvada, as national chain Mission BBQ takes the old Ruby Tuesday location at 5525 Wadsworth Bypass.

Construction for the new restaurant is underway, and a representative for Mission BBQ said the projected opening was “sometime in July,” though he could not give specifics before press time.

The project documents, approved by the City of Arvada, show that the renovation will include building a new façade and completing interior renovations for the 5,200-square-foot restaurant.

Mission BBQ operates in 21 states and has one location in Colorado Springs. The business’ first location opened in 2011 in Glen Burnie, Maryland.

Ruby Tuesday, another national chain, struggled to survive the COVID-19 pandemic, closing 185 restaurants nationwide and declaring bankruptcy in 2020. There are two Ruby Tuesdays left in Colorado; one in Denver and one in Pueblo.

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Evergreen’s well-known Yellow House is now full, with a decidedly spicy new tenant. 

India native and longtime Atlanta restaurateur Archna Becker just opened the Bhojanic Social Club in the building. Bhojana in Hindi means “food,” “meal,” or “enjoyment,” and Becker intends to offer all three to her customers.

The club is an event center and catering space designed for private and corporate events. Becker will also host cooking classes, yoga retreats, themed dinners and other events at the site.

Becker, who’s worked in the food industry for 25 years, described her passion for it as an addiction.

“I love cooking and hosting,” she said. “I love seeing people eat our food and enjoy the food. I love events and parties. And I’m good at it.”

Becker moved to Evergreen with her family in 2022, and noted there were few options to host smaller events.

“I feel there’s nothing like it for event spaces of this size or style,” she said. “We really want to focus on corporate retreats, team building events, rehearsal dinners and family reunions. The larger spaces available here are overkill if you’re just having a party for 50 people.”

Becker honed her talents in Atlanta, where she founded and owned multiple restaurants and a large-scale catering business. There she owns another Bhojanic Social Club and Tandoori Pizza & Wing Company.

Her career began in high school. Becker’s Indian parents were cooks whose food was always in demand. Her parents were cooking for friends as a favor, their kitchen often overflowing with food. Becker saw an opportunity and as a high school senior in the mid-’90s, she opened an Atlanta banquet facility and restaurant with them.  

In 2000, she incorporated her first catering business, later expanding into restaurants. The businesses quickly grew until Becker and her team were catering corporate events as large as 13,000 people.

The year 2020 began with a trio of business high points for Becker. She appeared on a cooking show with Guy Fieri, was a guest chef at a Mexican music festival and was asked to be on the board of the National Restaurant Association.

“Three amazing things within a month and five days,” Becker said. “Then Covid hit. I lost a million dollars. The catering, the food truck and the restaurant died. It was so horrible.”

Becker quickly pivoted and started the Tandoori Pizza & Wing Company, and then the family decided to move to Evergreen, a community they’d visited once on a ski trip and immediately liked.

“We needed a re-do,” Becker said. “We love it so much here. We walk around the lake with the dog every day, and everyone is super nice. There’s always something going on; there’s so much happening for a little town.”

She believes Evergreen is in enough demand that it needs a business like Bhojanic, which adds not just event space but fun and unusual offerings for those just wanting a unique experience or night out.

On March 11, she’ll host a “Curry in a Hurry” class, which will teach students shortcuts to making Indian curry.

On March 29, she plans an “Indian Holi” themed dinner with 12 to 14 courses, a DJ, a henna artist and dancing. The Hindu festival of Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, marks the arrival of spring with vibrant celebrations and festive food.

“We’ll offer classes each month, and each month I’ll also try to do one bigger event — like an Indian barbecue for Father’s Day, a high tea event for Mother’s Day.”

Becker plans to offer events at a wide variety of price points so the club can provide something to everyone.

The space has two rooms available for rent;  one that can accommodate up to 40 people, and a second with space for up to 75 guests. Food can be brought in, or Becker can cater in exchange for a discount on the accommodations.

She also plans to make the commercial kitchen at Bhojanic available for rent.

For details on events at Bhojanic Social Club, check its Facebook page.

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When Littleton’s newest coffee shop opens its doors, it will provide more than just warm, caffeinated beverages to its visitors. With each purchase, it will also donate funds to support initiatives to end child poverty around the world.

Mango Tree Coffee, which currently has a location on South Broadway in Englewood, plans to open its second location at 5624 S. Prince St. in Littleton in March. The coffee shop provides funding for MANNA Worldwide, a Texas-based Christian nonprofit that works in more than 35 countries on initiatives related to nutrition, medicine, orphanages, education, clean water and spiritual growth, according to its website.

Marc Corona, one of the founders of Mango Tree Coffee, said he started the coffee shop in 2021 with a group of people connected to the nonprofit who wanted to be able to support the organization’s mission in a new way.

“Since Mango Tree in Englewood opened, it’s been awesome to see how it’s been able to just kind of become a part of the community there,” he said. “It’s our desire to continue to be able to do that for additional communities here in Denver — but then also, having more locations allows us to have a bigger impact internationally as well, and provide more programs for kids around the world that don’t really have the same opportunities.”

The company donates 100% of its proceeds toward funding relief projects, according to its website.

Corona said the organization recognizes that poverty can’t be solved with a quick, easy fix like simply giving someone food. To make their efforts more sustainable, the organization works with local partners in communities around the world.

“A lot of times, it’s the community development piece, long-term, that really helps to turn those communities around,” he said. “We don’t go into it with a mindset thinking, ‘Hey, we know what you need,’ but more so, ‘Hey, what can we do to help you guys develop your community?’

In addition to coffee — which is roasted in small batches at the Englewood location — Mango Tree Coffee will offer light food options such as breakfast burritos and pastries, Corona said.

He said the company has learned a lot from its first location in Englewood — largely, the benefit of being surrounded by a vibrant business community.

“Littleton is another one of those really awesome small-town-feel towns in the Denver area,” Corona said. “We know it’s a community that is supportive. We know that people are active and they support other local businesses, and we just (are) kind of all working towards the success of everyone, collectively.”

The shop will take the place of Devil’s Cup Coffee, which closed in November, according to an Instagram post from the company, which has since been deleted.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the permanent closure of Devil’s Cup Coffee on Prince St.,” the post said. “We are so grateful for the memories made here, and will cherish the connections we’ve shared with so many of you.”

Corona said the fact that the location was already a coffee shop is a benefit since many people in the community are already familiar with going there for coffee.

As Corona looks forward to the new location opening, he said he is excited to connect with more people in the community.

“Our goal, locally, with Mango Tree, is to be a place for people to come together,” he said. “We’re just looking forward to getting to know everyone and trying to be the best that we can in that space and continue to keep it a vibrant community that’s already there.”

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