Is it the end of the world as we know it?
Just in case the Mayans are wrong and the world didn’t cease to exist today, I’m filing this column assuming it’s business as usual around these parts.
For restaurateur and commercial real estate owner Jesse Morreale it’s anything but business as usual ever since he got crossways with the city over issues at his RockBar nightclub, at 3015 E. Colfax, which he closed in October after Denver’s Department of Excise and License yanked the liquor license after apparent several violations.
Rather than continue to fight the law, Morreale gave up and shut the doors. The new news is that Morreale’s company Morreale Hotels LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week owing $6.8 million to 13 unsecured creditors, according to a listing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of Denver.
But the Morreale-City of Denver dust-up doesn’t end there. Additionally, the historic building he owns on First and Broadway which houses restaurants El Diablo, Sketch and his company offices, is wrangled in a foreclosure filing with the property headed for the auction block on Jan. 3, according to the Denver Public Trustee’s office.
Morreale, however, says that the Internet status of the property is outdated and there are no pending foreclosures nor auction.
“The truth is that there is not active foreclosure proceedings on either of these properties right now,” Morreale told me on Thursday. “Our bank was put into receivership one-and-a-half years ago, and it’s been a nightmare to track this stuff down. I went down to the public trustee’s office this morning to ask them to take down the posting, but they were in the middle of (a bunch) of foreclosure hearings. It’s all really complicated. The whole thing’s on hold.”
Morreale’s gripe , besides his obvious issues with Denver, is that in today’s media frenzy to be first to break stories on the Internet, disclaimers on public information websites can be overlooked.
On the website www.denvergov.org, before you click onto a particular public record, a “disclaimer” page appears saying that “The City and County of Denver does not warrant or represent the accuracy or timeliness of the information contained in the eForeclosure website. The data presented is for informational use only…”
The 1906 building on First and Broadway has been under city scrutiny regarding the alleged “safety” issues, which resulted in a two week-closure in July. Morreale was allowed a temporary permit to reopen and operate his businesses while he continued to do battle with the city. The deadline to bring the building up to the city’s safety standards came and went on Halloween with no resolution.
According to the foreclosure documents on the Broadway building, Morreale Hotels LLC owes $2.02 million from a 2008 loan of $3.78 million.
Stay tuned. This story is not going anywhere soon.
New Year’s Eve olive-drop option
I told you earlier this week about several ways you can welcome in 2013 on Dec. 31. While in no way did I make the claim that the list was all-inclusive, I did overlook the Tavern Downtown’s annual NYE Tavern Olive Drop and rooftop view of the city’s annual fireworks display.
NYE revelers will have a front row seat to fireworks on Denver’s largest rooftop patio at 1949 Market St. At the 60-second countdown to midnight, Tavern’s Olive Drop will begin its descent. The two-foot illuminated olive will drop 20 feet into a 15-foot tall and seven-foot wide illuminated martini glass on top of the Tavern’s rooftop.
Tickets are $45 for arrival between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. and $50 for those arriving after 9 p.m. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $40 at www.tavernhg.com. Complimentary champagne toast and party favors will help partygoers celebrate the evening.
For more New Year’s Eve restaurant reservation options, go to http://www.opentable.com/opentables.aspx?t=reg&n=764,2201,1125,7613,2651,529,7913,7634,730,1269,769,2924,1487,5399,893,894,492,2954,896,3737,8066,889,1123,4604,1565,8159,2528,1126,7907,1366,1477,7040,2192,2645,2069,2888,493,2855,890,891,892,5957,1302,4439,2195,814,7577,895,1572,2198,2189,113,1468,4307,2819,6524&m=5&p=2&d=12/31/2012%207:00:00%20PM&scpref=110&fsr=1&spMailingID=4611772&spUserID=MjgxMDAyMjc5NzAS1&spJobID=135729652&spReportId=MAS2.
Drink on
Again, assuming the world didn’t end today, Coohills restaurant at 1400 Wewatta, is willing to flirt with potential disaster with The End of Thyme cocktail, which consists of Hangar One Buddha’s Hand Citron Vodka, fresh lime juice, agave nectar, muddled strawberries, fresh thyme and a splash of Cointreau.
If we live to see Saturday, Coohills will serve the creative cocktail through the end of the year.
Eavesdropping on a UPS truck driver (and Broncos fan) and a skeptical friend: “Broncos are going to the Super Bowl, baby!”
“Is Pat Bowlen buying them all tickets?”
Rock on
Colorado-born rocker Ryan Tedder, lead singer of the hot band OneRepublic, will open a Southern Hospitality restaurant in downtown Denver this summer.
Tedder, who is part owner of the Southern Hospitality in the Hell’s Kitchen area of New York, has formed a partnership with Accredited Members Inc. as the franchisee of 30 new stores in various cities across the U.S.
Southern Hospitality, which specializes in comfort food and barbecue, operates two New York locations. The restaurant was co-created by pop star and actor Justin Timberlake.
Did you hear that I have a new column, “Mile High Life,” in Colorado Community Media’s 17 weekly newspapers circling Denver? Be sure to like my Facebook page! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I’m now the social-media liaison for the Mile High Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association, so read my latest restaurant news there. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.
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