Coffee and Burritos Coming to Long-Vacant Spaces Near DU

A building at the corner of East Evans Avenue and South Downing Street near the University of Denver will soon be filled with local businesses once again, as new options for coffee and burritos prepare to open.

For decades, 1135 East Evans Avenue was home to Fagan’s, but the space has seen a lot of turnover since then. Boone’s Tavern had a good run there, which included a remodel to split the space so that the upscale eatery Atticus could open next door. In 2016, Boone’s was replaced with the Rosedale, a concept that lasted only two and a half years.

In 2018, Atticus was replaced by Devour the 303, which later added a dessert shop, the Sweet Spot, in Rosedale space. But after attempting a post-pandemic shutdown comeback, Devour called it quits for good in the summer of 2022.

The building, which is highly visible but has a hard-to-access parking lot in the back and no street parking nearby, sat vacant for the next two-plus years.

Finally, there were signs of life when one section of the building (which has been smartly split into three separate spaces) opened as the second location of the Aurora restaurant, Yemen Grill, in May. Now, two “coming soon” banners are hanging on the remaining pair of spaces.

Convict Coffee’s Second Location

Disillusioned with working for corporate restaurant chains and motivated to make a difference in the world, Dan Klehm launched Convict Coffee Company in Parker with his two sons in April 2024. “When we opened, we had $400 in the bank and $70,000 in credit-card debt, but we believed that people would want to support something different,” he says.

This is no typical coffee shop, as the name suggests. “I’ve been asked why we used the name Convict, because it’s kind of derogatory,” notes Klehm, who was incarcerated himself when he was younger, before becoming a father and finding a career in the restaurant industry. The politically correct term these days is “incarcerated individual,” he says, “But no one ever walked into my cell and called me an incarcerated individual. …I want to shake people a little, and that all starts with the name being a bit of a grab.”

It’s an approach that has worked, even in Parker, which skews conservative. “I’ve been able to really dive deep with people and have significant conversations,” Klehm says.

His goal with his business is two-fold: to support causes that aim to reduce the recidivism rate, and to create a positive environment for employees and guests alike, using a pay-equity model to ensure staff can make a living wage.

Klehm’s long-term goal is to open ten metro area locations and to begin franchising specifically to ex-convicts. “I want to give people an opportunity to reshape their lives, an opportunity to get going in the right direction,” he says.

When the shop’s new location opens, hopefully by the end of the year, expect an irreverent edge in a place that’s meant to be a gathering space for the community, complete with a “be kind or be gone” sign on the wall and events like movie and bingo nights. “We have childishly named drinks and a crazy loud playlist — we just try to have a really good time in there,” says Klehm, who adds that he’s also excited for the burrito joint that’s opening next door.

El Burrito y El Burrote Mexican Grill

Tucked between Yemen Grill and the Convict Coffee Company will be a brand-new Mexican joint from a mother-daughter team. El Burrito y El Burrote Mexican Grill is the latest venture from Yamilex Cruz and her mom/business partner. Cruz, who will turn thirty in January, has worked in the food industry her entire career; she opened her first restaurant in Westminster at the age of 21, and has also operated a local food truck. This project, though, is her chance to “start from scratch and build it from zero,” she says.

The focus will be on build-your-own burritos and bowls, and she’s got some big-name competition nearby — both an Illegal Pete’s and the original Chipotle are located just blocks away. But Cruz promises that her burrito joint will be different. “It’s more traditional food,” she explains. “I’m from Denver, and my mom is from Chihuahua, so it’s like Chihuahua meets Denver.” Guests can expect the menu to also include Den-Mex favorites like Mexican hamburgers and green chile-smothered fries alongside quesabirria and a full salsa bar. “We’re making everything from scratch,” Cruz notes.

Initially, the restaurant will open at 6 a.m., serving breakfast burritos, and will close at 6 p.m. with plans to adjust as needed depending on demand.

Cruz is hoping to open in January or February, “so I can go into my thirties with a banger,” she concludes.