Concept promising “bougie ratchet energy” leases ex-Tom’s Diner

The one-time Tom’s Diner constructing is taking a brand new kind as soon as once more.

Champagne Tiger, a soon-to-be French-American diner, has leased the constructing at 601 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver that was house for twenty years to Tom’s Diner after which, briefly, Tom’s Starlight.

Proprietor Chris Donato stated he’s focusing on a September opening for his restaurant that can function specialty pasta and piano nights, in addition to drag brunches on Sundays

“I’ve at all times been in search of a diner house. I needed to create a French-American diner,” Donato stated. “And what meaning to me is that you just’re sampling a number of the classics from the land of the French brasserie, however you’re pairing it with American diner classics. And to make it higher, having this excessive vitality or, what we prefer to name, bougie ratchet vitality that we actually convey to the eating places.”

The menu, he stated, will vary from burgers and omelets to caviar and oysters. He plans to be open 5 days per week for dinner and serve brunch on the weekend.

Champagne Tiger has operated for about three years as a pop-up occasion firm, internet hosting issues corresponding to drag brunches, and bottomless champagne and French fry nights at social golf equipment and eating places in Denver.

Now, Donato is transitioning all that to the East Colfax diner.

“We need to create a scene targeted on meals and high quality that’s wonderful as a result of it’s offered in a very joyous celebratory ambiance,” he stated. “What we’re doing now could be taking the vitality of that pop-up collection and presenting it as a full brick-and-mortar restaurant.”

Tom’s Diner closed in 2020. Proprietor Tom Messina had deliberate to promote the property to a developer, who would have demolished the construction. However when neighbors stepped as much as attempt to save the construction, Messina struck an alternate deal, bringing on Cleveland-based GBX Group as a part-owner of the actual property.

In fall 2022, after the property was renovated, Messina opened Tom’s Starlight, a pricier and less-demanding bar and lounge. However he closed it final fall after a yr.

Donato, who lives two blocks from the constructing, stated he expressed curiosity in it earlier than the tip of final yr. He’s making few modifications to the property as a result of it was renovated so lately.

The constructing is about 3,684 sq. toes, with a bar and outside patio. Donato stated he hopes to have a large personal occasion enterprise. The again patio, he stated, can maintain about 240 individuals.

Donato beforehand labored for Frasca Hospitality Group, serving as head of operations and later model supervisor for the Boulder-based chain Pizzeria Locale. The restaurant expanded with backing from Chipotle, solely to see its 5 Denver places shuttered final yr.

Donato stated a lot of his background has targeted on high-end or effective eating, however he needs Champagne Tiger to be accessible and a neighborhood diner the place everyone seems to be welcome.