A Brazilian steakhouse chain known for tableside skewers of fire-roasted meat has purchased a building in Lakewood. Texas de Brazil bought the building at 7111 W. Alaska Drive in Belmar for $3 million, according to property records, with plans to open a new restaurant location in the mixed-use district.
The deal, first reported by BusinessDen, marks Belmar's first individual property sale since Bridge33 Capital acquired the 22-block development in 2021. The site previously housed Bar Louie, which closed the location in 2025, according to Denver Westword. The property is at 7111 W. Alaska Drive.
In a company statement, Texas de Brazil said the purchase would give it greater control. “Purchasing allows us to make a long-term investment in Lakewood while giving us greater control over the property and our future operating costs,” the company said. It added that “the purchase reflects confidence in the location and commitment to being part of the community for years.”
Belmar Purchase Adds to Front Range Footprint
Texas de Brazil's Front Range footprint includes a location at The Orchard Town Center in Westminster, along with an expansion location in Colorado Springs. The Belmar purchase gives the company an owned property in the district.
Texas de Brazil was founded in 1998 in Addison, Texas, by Salim Asrawi, an immigrant from Lebanon, according to Mashed. The chain has grown from that single location into dozens of restaurants built around the churrascaria model, in which servers circulate with large skewers of fire-roasted meats, carving them tableside based on a two-sided green-and-red table card system that signals when diners want more.
Belmar's Evolution Since Villa Italia
Belmar now spans over 1 million rentable square feet across its 22 city blocks, encompassing roughly 726,000 square feet of retail space, 300,000 square feet of office space and more than 1,200 residential units. The district was built on the former 100-acre site of Villa Italia Mall, a shopping center that closed in 2001 and whose demolition began in December 2001, according to the Citrus Heights Sentinel. Belmar is in downtown Lakewood, where recent leasing activity has continued.
Google Fiber signed a lease for more than 13,000 square feet at Belmar in January 2024 to consolidate its regional operations and Denver Webpass team, adding daytime workforce density to the district's central plaza.
Lakewood has an estimated population exceeding 155,000 residents, according to the Citrus Heights Sentinel. The purchase places a national steakhouse chain in the district.
