Yacht Club, a community bar inspired by the casual drinking and social cultures from around the world, will open Aug. 20 in the center area at the Source, 3350 Brighton Blvd., in the space formerly occupied by the CapRock Farm Bar.
Owned by Mary Wright, the Yacht Club aims to be a gathering place for locals, visitors and industry professionals.
“The Source is in many ways a community, our community, and also like its own neighborhood,” Wright said. “My life-partner, Mclain Hedges, owns the Proper Pour. With the Yacht Club, we are not only excited to complement the existing businesses, but also enhance and serve the quickly growing area.”
Kyle Zeppelin, developer of the Source, said, “The vision that Mary has is very much in line with what we are trying to create at the Source – a community space where like-minded people gather. Part of the programming will include more events in the common area space. We have a unique situation and a very collaborative environment that allows for all sorts of events from food-related book signings to lectures, tastings, dinners and more.”
A full service bar, the Yacht Club will build on the idea of social drinking. “We want the space to have something for everyone and also showcase how diverse the world of booze can be,” Wright said. “In the islands, you have ‘Ti Punch, in Spain (there are) sherry or gin and tonics, as well as favorites here like juleps, cobblers, or a shot and a beer. At the Yacht Club we will showcase some of these ideas, as well as some of our own.”
The wine list will highlight quirky and esoteric bottles in addition to classics. Any bottle will be available to open for by-the-glass purchase, with a two glass minimum, while the remainder will be offered on the by-the-glass list.
For the beer selection, the Yacht Club plans to keep a steady rotation of food-friendly beers. “It’s all about balance. Whether it’s a big barrel-aged beast or a crisp pilsner, we want the beer to be approachable to the palate while maintaining a certain amount of complexity,” Wright said. “However, you’ll always be able to come in and grab a standby like Banquet or Highlife too.”
A small selection of food will be offered through a collaboration with Acorn, one of the two restaurants at the Source. The goal is to provide food that compliments the drinks, as opposed to a more traditional approach where drinks compliment the food.
“We want to offer our guests a broad range of options – cocktails, wine, beer – without the commitment to a big dinner,” Wright said. “But with an amazing bottle of wine, we also want them to be able to enjoy the highest quality bite, which is why we are thrilled with this partnership and to work with one of the most talented groups in the country.”
The team behind the Yacht Club, in collaboration with the design team at the Source, has worked on transforming the space to fit the new vision. The table seating in the back area was removed and replaced with custom-designed comfortable yet utilitarian black couches and low zebra wood tables to encourage casual lounging. The transformation will continue with the addition of a custom LED-centric light piece created by local artist Evan Miller of Moving Light that will add warmth and the illusion of bringing the ceiling down in the vast space. Winter Session, a local canvas and leather goods designer, crafted the upholstery for the space.
The name Yacht Club is a reference to the community aspect of the new bar as well as a play on the fact that the neighborhood, RiNo, is set along the Platte River. “It’s not nautical. It’s tongue-and-cheek referencing the Platte River, but also camaraderie, the idea of lounging, of hanging out, of being part of a community,” Wright said.
The Source is an artisan food market that occupies a former 1880‘s brick foundry building in Denver’s River North District. It’s a collective of food artisans and retailers offering visitors everything from freshly baked bread to craft cocktails, from street tacos to contemporary flower arrangements. More information: www.thesourcedenver.com.
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