Every Restaurant Opening and Closing This Week, July 17-23

After a bit of a lull the first and second weeks of July, the pace has picked up — with eleven additions to metro Denver’s food and drink scene to report. At the Denver Central Market, the first new concept since the food hall opened in 2016 debuted in the former SK Provisions space: Lunchboxx. Brought to us by Zach Spott, who was previously the chef at Brass Tacks, it boasts a menu of “Boxxes” loaded with such proteins as rotisserie chicken, lamb kabobs and tofu, along with a deli case filled with sides like Hawaiian mac salad, carrot and beet slaw, and fried curried cauliflower.

Nearby, at the Industry building on Brighton Boulevard, Fusions Bar & Grill’s opening brings another gay bar to the Denver scene — and we appreciate the step-by-step parking and directional photos provided on its website.

Three new beverage-focused spots have joined the scene: Coffee Story in Aurora has smoothies, shaved ice and macarons (including one with a unicorn horn) along with caffeinated beverages; Milk Tea People on Market Street has tea lattes, fruit-filled frescas, tonics and teas topped with cheese cream; and Happy Lemon, a China-born bubble tea chain, has brought its all-natural tea-based drinks to Edgewater Market.

Also in Edgewater, R&R BBQ, which got its start in Salt Lake City, is serving up smoked meat and sides like hushpuppies and garlic mashers with brown gravy.

Travelers at Denver International Airport have two new options for food and drinks: Shake Shack opened its first location with a full bar, and Atlanta-based SweetWater Brewing landed with craft beers and a full food menu — though its flagship 420 Extra Pale Ale may not be allowed to be on tap.

Here’s the full list of openings and closings this week:

Restaurants and bars opening this week*:

Coffee Story, 2222 South Havana Street, Unit A1, Aurora
Fusions Bar & Grill, 3001 Brighton Boulevard
Happy Lemon, 1931 Sheridan Boulevard, Suite Unit Q, Edgewater
Himalayan Spice, 4279 Tennyson Street
Lunchboxx, 2669 Larimer Street
Milk Tea People, 1641 Market Street, Suite 133
Mon Thai Restaurant, 2099 Wadsworth Boulevard, Suite B, Lakewood
R&R BBQ, 5495 West 20th Avenue, Edgewater
Shake Shack, Denver International Airport, Concourse B
SweetWater Mountain Taphouse, Denver International Airport, Concourse B
Walkin Chickin, 4004 West 38th Avenue

Restaurants and bars reopening this week*:

Bread Bar, 1010 Main Street, Silver Plume

Restaurants and bars closing this week*:
mmm…COFFEE! A Paleo Bistro, 910 Santa Fe Drive, #6

*Or earlier and not previously reported.

Know of something we missed? Let us know, cafe@westword.com.