Recess Beer Garden, the LoHi open-air patio that packs in big crowds and smashburger fans, is heading east with a second Denver location set for Virginia Village this fall. The group has lined up a spot in a redeveloped strip center and is planning another patio-heavy build-out, aiming to bring the LoHi energy into a more low-key neighborhood setting. CEO Jason Romero said the team will put roughly $1 million into construction and is betting that a roomy outdoor hangout will change how Virginia Village eats and drinks after years of relatively little retail churn.
Where it's going
The new Recess will take over about half of an 8,000-square-foot former Family Dollar at 1417 S. Holly St. and is targeting a fall opening, according to BusinessDen. The property's new owners snapped up the five-acre strip mall last year and are rebranding it as The Village Park, with plans to bring in fresh retail tenants and carve out more public space so the center feels like a true neighborhood gathering spot.
Courtyard and community
The Village Park's website outlines a 10,000-square-foot turfed courtyard and leans hard into family-friendly amenities, according to The Village Park. The plans list a South Holly Street address and show the courtyard positioned right outside Recess's front door. Developers say the layout is meant to work for kids, dogs and evening beer-garden crowds all at once, turning what was once a basic strip center into an all-ages hangout.
Build-out and business math
Romero told BusinessDen that the build-out will run about $1 million, with him and eight partners footing the bill themselves. The new owners of The Village Park are layering on roughly $3.5 million in upgrades to the overall property to backfill it with new tenants and community space. Romero also said Recess saw sales slip from 2024 to 2025 but remains profitable, and he is looking at the Virginia Village spot as a way to expand the brand's reach beyond its LoHi base.
Neighborhood fit and timing
The original LoHi Recess has long pulled in neighbors with its sprawling patio and broad beer list, as shown on the Recess website. That dog-friendly, casual setup seems tailor-made for Virginia Village and could help steer more midday and early-evening traffic into the strip center. Romero is eyeing an opening this fall and is keeping food and outdoor space at the center of the concept, betting that the formula that works in LoHi can translate a few miles east.
