Junction Food & Drink is set to open at 2000 S. Colorado Blvd. in Denver’s Colorado Center on Wednesday, October 7.

When the one-of-a-kind, chef-driven food hall makes its highly-anticipated debut, it will feature an eclectic collection of six artisanal food stalls in addition to Denver-based Sonder Coffee and Tea and its signature, 40-foot, indoor/outdoor Junction Bar. Guests will have the opportunity to select from a wide array of inspired creations from both locally and nationally renowned chefs, including:

Big Wave Taco Shop – Denver-based TAG Restaurant Group, founded by Chef Troy Guard, is bringing nachos, quesadillas, tacos and more to Junction.

Ebisu Ramen and Sushi – Chef Soon Choi, head chef at Sushi Den, will showcase sushi rolls, sushi bowls, ramen and a selection of innovative small plates.

Mr. Miner’s Meat and Cheese – Chase and Melissa Devitt’s stall will offer beautifully cured meats and fine cheeses in addition to salads, sandwiches and a variety of shareables.

Paciugo Gelato – Rob Prange still makes his gelati and sorbetti the traditional Italian way, with the freshest fruits and all-natural ingredients. The result is a light, unbelievably smooth frozen dessert with 70% less fat than ice cream.

Pete’s-A-Pie of Denver – Longtime DC pizza operator Joel Mehr will introduce Denverites to his chef-driven New Haven-style pizza – by the slice and whole.

Shawarma Shack – Guests will have a front-row seat to unique food theater with Chef Yaser Khalaf’s mesmerizing slow-cooked meats roasting on spits in the window. Sure to be an instant favorite among vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free guests.

Shortly after the grand opening, four additional food stalls led by some of today’s most cutting-edge local and national chefs will open, adding even more variety to the culinary lineup, including:

Bird on a Wire Southern Chick’n – The Garner Brothers are bringing Southern favorites like their Nashville Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Tenders and Southern Smoked Wings with tasty sides like Mac & Cheese, Fried Pickles, Waffle Fries and Coleslaw.

Grind and Grill Burger – Restaurateur Dave Garner and his sons will serve up fresh, made-to-order burgers – with unique twists – hand-cut fries and extraordinary shakes at their family-owned stall.

Lazo Empanadas – François Saber’s Lazo Empanadas are traditional Argentinian, farm-fresh pockets of perfection, created to bring out the empanada fanatic in everyone!

Smok Barbeque – Bill Espiricueta and the Smok team focus on classic barbecue from across the country with special notes from Kansas City and Austin, Texas. The house-smoked meats, shared plates, creative sides and sauces are both nuanced and forthright in flavor, color and texture.

Junction’s culinary variety and innovation doesn’t stop there. The eye-catching indoor-outdoor Junction Bar will serve an array of featured cocktails, beer and wine that will pair perfectly with Junction’s international food lineup. Spanning 40-feet, Junction Bar is sure to become a frequent hot spot as it’s the unique link between the food hall and a vast 4,000-square-foot outdoor patio, perfect for socially distanced gatherings. Once virus-related restrictions are lifted, the patio will hold up to 160 guests, and the combined indoor and outdoor seating will accommodate over 400 guests.

“It has been a long time in the making, and we couldn’t be more excited to finally open and start serving all of the workers, residents, light rail users, foodies, and University of Denver students and faculty throughout this bustling area,” says Pat Garza, CEO of National Food Hall Solutions. “There’s no other place in southeast Denver where you can find such a wide variety of elevated food options made by renowned chefs, all under one roof. Plus, we have a plethora of parking and you can easily keep your distance from other guests in the 12,220-square-foot indoor-outdoor food hall. We look forward to serving everyone starting on Wednesday!”

In addition to dine-in service, Junction will offer curbside pickup and delivery through DoorDash and Grubhub. Guests can also easily order online directly from Junction Food and Drink, park in the designated spaces and have their food safely brought out curbside to their car.

Of course, the safety and well-being of its guests and team members are paramount at Junction Food & Drink. In addition to adhering to all federal, state and local guidelines, Junction has implemented enhanced sanitization measures to ensure that recommended standards are exceeded. Some of its current procedures include:

Team members are required to wear masks at all times.

Guests are required to wear masks when they are not eating or drinking.

Cleaning staff size has been doubled from original plans. These team members are dedicated to diligently cleaning all surfaces from the doors to the sink faucets and everything in between.

Guests can order using a QR code at their table to limit contact and receive a text when their food is ready to be picked up.

Junction will initially be open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sonder Coffee and Tea will open at 7 a.m., and Junction Bar and the other stalls will open at 11 a.m.