Block & Larder, Denver Sold to Post Oak BBQ

If you are on Tennyson Street in Denver, you may be drawn to the award-winning Texas style BBQ restaurant Post Oak. Owned and operated by Nick Prince, the food there is delicious and as authentically Texas as the owner. Like most restaurant locations, this one has a history going back to 2009 when I met two brothers that had recently relocated to Denver. In 2010 I had the opportunity to help Jason Forgy and Lucas Forgy find a location for Freshcraft, which quickly became one of the best tap rooms... Read More

Colorado Restaurant Real Estate Broker: New Colorado Distillery Pub License

On April 24, 2015 Governor Hickenlooper signed into law Colorado House Bill HB 15-1204, creating a Distillery Pub Alcohol Beverage License. This new license was shaped in a manner similar to the Brewpub License, which requires that at least fifteen percent of an establishment’s gross sales come from food sales. All other requirements to obtain any liquor license, such as needs and desires of the community, good moral character of the applicant, etc., are the same. A Distillery Pub licensee can also hold other ‘on premise’ licenses, for example, a... Read More

Block & Larder Restaurant Opens on Tennyson

Over four years ago, I had the opportunity to help the Forgy brothers find a location for a concept that would feature Lucas’ culinary expertise and Jason’s passion for craft beer. It was a great idea, timing was right, and Freshcraft opened in 2010. After four years of success, continued growth, and brother Aaron joining the team, it was time to expand. It would have been easiest to duplicate a strong concept such as Freshcraft, but the brothers wanted a food-focused concept rather than beer-centric, and the idea of Block... Read More

Colorado Restaurant Broker: Colorado’s Unclaimed Property Act – What Restaurant and Bar Owners Need to Know.

In February 2014, one of my businesses received a certified letter from the Colorado State Treasury’s office stating “Our records indicate that your company has never reported unclaimed property.” It also stated “You may think that your organization is not large enough to have unclaimed property, but we have found that even small organizations may accumulate unclaimed property.” I had heard of the Colorado Unclaimed Property Act but was not aware of the reporting requirement, and frankly, I thought it was for larger companies. The state claims the purpose of... Read More

What is a Failing Restaurant Worth?

When a restaurant business is failing, it is common to evaluate the assets when estimating the selling price.  The most common way this is achieved is by engaging an auction company that is experienced in liquidating restaurant furniture and equipment or possibly an experienced equipment dealer. Although this method is common, I believe it is only accurate when a restaurant business has lost its lease.  Generally, this achieves the lowest possible selling price. During the early 1990s I noticed a trend in the Denver restaurant resale market that caught my... Read More

Historians Ale House Opens at 24 Broadway in Denver

Historians Ale House

If you live in or around Denver and are a fan of craft beer, you need to put Historians Ale House on your list. This new restaurant and bar in the hot Baker community on South Broadway in Denver is a celebration of all things Colorado – especially our beer culture. Historians Ale house is a newly renovated 3,000 square foot facility with high ceilings, a huge granite bar and one of the best rooftop bars and patios in Denver.  Denver restaurant broker Shawn Sanborn represented the tenant in lease negotiations for this highly sought... Read More

Shawn Sanborn: Business Broker/Restaurant Owner – Why that matters

Most business brokers enter the profession later in their life after a long business career. Many recently sold their own business and see business brokerage as a natural progression.  I made the decision for many different reasons. True, when I founded Sanborn and Company I had sold three successful businesses that I founded. However, I had just turned thirty and it was still early in my business career. The previous year I sold my neighborhood sports bar and restaurant and for the first time I paid a commission. I learned... Read More

Kitchen Accidents: Denver Restaurant Broker’s Tips on Restaurant Safety

Sitting at a nice restaurant is usually a calm, comfortable experience: the talk is friendly, the lighting is ambient, the bread is warm, and the servers are charming and composed. But through that swinging kitchen door is a hectic and dangerous environment. With the number of workers dashing around a cluttered room full of hot stoves, sharp utensils, and slippery fluids, very few restaurant kitchens can claim to be accident-free. These accidents range from slightly irritating to hilariously clumsy to seriously crippling, and some can affect restaurant customers as well... Read More

Restaurant Business Success: Maximizing Employee Productivity

Restaurant Business Success, Denver Business Broker, Owning a Restaurant

Food service is a tough industry, and in such a quick and competitive marketplace, maximizing a bar or restaurant’s efficiency and productivity is essential for survival. While a big part of business efficiency is about planning—budgeting, accounting, saving—much of your business productivity rests with your employees. More notorious than the restaurant industry’s business turnover rate is its employee turnover rate: restaurants’ low wages and difficult hours attract young workers who often leave to find better-paid work, take a job opportunity from a competing business, or continue their studies. Many of... Read More

Colorado Restaurant Broker: New CO Food Code – What You Need To Know

Colorado Food Code, Colorado Real Estate Broker, Colorado Restaurant Broker

In March of 2013 the new Colorado food code went into effect.  As responsible operators, we all understand the importance of proper food handling and the need for uniform rules and fair enforcement.  If you own or operate a restaurant, below I have outlined some basic things you need to know about the operational changes required by the revised food code. What is the new code?  Throughout the last several years, the State Board of Health has adopted six CCR 1010-2 Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations. And In November... Read More