A Chicago-based restaurant group wants to bring the Hamptons to Denver.
Parker Hospitality will make its Colorado debut with the opening of Hampton Social in the former Ale House space at 2501 16th St., next year. Ale House, which was owned by Breckenridge-Wynkoop, closed in April as sales struggled to rebound after the pandemic. The high-profile spot is known for its rooftop pat,io and sweeping views toward the city and the mountains.
“Denver is a growing city, and I’ve witnessed the changes ever since I was a kid,” said Parker Hospitality CEO Brad Parker. “My parents went to CSU, and my dad was once a dishwasher for Vail Resorts, so ever since then it’s been in my blood to go out to Denver and the mountains. I’ve seen it grow into a thriving culinary scene, nightlife scene and really a destination, so it felt like the right time to take the leap and be a part of that growth.”
Hampton Social, which first opened in Chicago in 2015, already has eight locations throughout the U.S., including Illinois, Florida and Tennessee.
The restaurant and bar has a “rosé all day” theme with 15 different rosés to choose from, including bottles from France, Italy and California, plus a half-off bottle of rosé special during happy hour, and its signature Hampton Frosé, which is served in a giant seashell glass. There’s also an Instagram-friendly wall of roses by a neon “Rosé All Day” sign.
“In the Hamptons, if you haven’t gotten a chance to experience it, every day of the summer is about popping bottles of rosé,” Parker said. “There’s a reason Jon Bon Jovi started a rosé brand called Hampton Water because that’s how they drink it. So we hope to bring that culture of getting together and enjoying an easy glass for brunch, lunch or dinner to Denver.”
Hampton Social is inspired by the summer days where New Yorkers flock to the Hamptons for escape. The restaurant features nautical decor and will serve coastal cuisine, like lobster rolls, seafood towers, octopus and oysters. But there’s also something for everyone, such as spicy rigatoni, smash burgers and “Bang Bang chicken.” For brunch, guests can dig into monkey bread, bananas foster French toast and a fried chicken stack amongst other selections.
“We want to sell the experience of what it’s like going to the Hamptons each summer,” Parker said. “We’ve all seen the Hamptons on TV, whether it’s the Kardashians, Martha Stewart or the Real Housewives, but the reality is it’s hard to get to. It’s not an easy trip; you have to fly into New York and sometimes it takes four hours with traffic to drive there. Not everyone is able to do that, so we wanted to bring it to locals in the city.”
Parker Hospitality has leased the two-story, 7,800-square-foot space for 10 years. The restaurant group plans to expand the 1,600-square-foot rooftop terrace and make it fit for year-round operations. The main floor will be anchored by a 360-degree bar and feature a private dining room called the “Rosé All Day” lounge.
The restaurant group, which Parker started in 2015, owns two other concepts in Chicago: Bassment, a live music cocktail lounge and Nisos, a high-end Mediterranean restaurant. Parker said he has more plans for Colorado in the future and is eyeing Cherry Creek and the mountains.
Hampton Social isn’t the only Chicago-based concept to enter the market in recent years. Happy Camper, located in LoHi, also hails from the Windy City, as does Federales in RiNo, which is owned by the Four Corners restaurant group.
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