Great Hall Partners, the team selected as the private developer for Denver International Airport’s (DEN) Great Hall renovation project, has selected the first concessions for the venue. The concepts include Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, The Post Brewing Company, Caribou Coffee, Kabod Coffee, Denver Street Eats and 5280 Market, a retail and convenience store. These first concessions are scheduled to open in the middle of 2019, following the completion of the first phase of construction.
“We received a variety of strong, game-changing proposals in this first round of RFPs, and our goal was to select the best mix of concepts taking into account the diversity of Denver,” says Ignacio Castejon, chief executive officer of Great Hall Partners. “Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar and The Post Brewing Company represent Denver favorites, and Denver Street Eats will provide a rotating, local chef-showcase concept, while Kabod Coffee is a great local entrepreneur story. We’ve rounded out the group of concessionaires with a national coffee brand as well as a retail convenience provider.”
Denver-based and ACDBE-certified Mission Yogurt, Inc., which owns and operates a number of concessions concepts in DEN concourses, is bringing three concessions to the Great Hall: local Denver restaurant brands Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar and The Post Brewing Company and nationally recognized Caribou Coffee.
“We are thrilled to be able to present three unique and localized concepts to the Great Hall through the Great Hall Partners,” says Rod Tafoya, president of Mission Yogurt, Inc. “The RFP process has been both collaborative and efficient, with all parties working as a cohesive team with a common goal: to provide travelers with an elevated dining experience at DEN.”
Mission is partnering with Big Red F Restaurant Group on the Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar and The Post Brewing Company concepts. Jax Fish House and Oyster Bar, which first opened in Boulder in 1994 and has five street locations, will offer a raw bar and hot food menu that explores local produce and mindfully sourced seafood, featuring fresh oysters delivered daily as well as a seafood friendly wine list, crafted cocktails and local beers. The Post Brewing Company, which has four locations in the Denver metro area, will offer an all-day breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner menu, as well as company-brewed craft beer along with a full bar.
Local brand Kabod Coffee will bring a “farm-to-cup” experience to DEN’s coffee lovers, offering all organic and unblended coffee sourced directly from small family-owned farms in Ethiopia, according to Kabod Coffee owner Muluye Hailemariam. Kabod Coffee handles the entire importing process to control the quality and integrity of the coffee beans, which are then roasted in small batches in Denver, Colorado. The menu will feature premium coffees, hot and iced teas, fresh-pressed juices, kombucha and nitro cold brew coffee on tap, as well as all-day food items including bagels, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, oatmeal and baked goods.
Delaware North, along with ACDBE partners Trugoy Group, LLC and Big Country’s Bar BQ, will operate Denver Street Eats. The concept of the restaurant is a tribute to the RiNo District in Denver’s downtown and will feature local, in-demand chefs. Chefs will rotate through the space every 365 days, bringing new flavors and menu items to DEN’s Great Hall. The first local chef partner at Denver Street Eats will be Jeff Osaka, who has created and currently operates 12@Madison, Sushi-Rama, Osaka Ramen and The Denver Central Market.
“Denver Street Eats allows us to immerse ourselves even further in the Denver food scene by supporting talented local chefs and growing our partnerships with some of the city’s best restaurants,” says Kevin Kelly, president of Delaware North’s travel business. “We’re proud to work alongside Great Hall Partners and continue to make DEN one of the top airports for travelers.”
On the retail front, Marshall Retail Group, in conjunction with their partners at St. Croix Airport Retail, Inc. and LEI Airport Concessions, LLC, will develop 5280 Market, a retail and convenience store offering travel necessities, magazines, snacks and curated Colorado gifts.
