Mario Vega (far left), Le Peep CEO Kevin Wessell (far right) and Kate Wessel (center front) with other family members. (Courtesy Mario Vega)
The team behind Littleton’s Lake House Kitchen & Tavern is opening a new concept in the same shopping center.
Mario Vega and his business partners, Kevin and Kate Wessel, are opening Mesa Latin Kitchen at 8156 W. Bowles Ave. Kevin Vessel is also the CEO of breakfast chain Le Peep.
The restaurant will offer a variety of Latin American food, Vega said, such as ceviche, paella and Brazilian- and Argentinian-style steak.
“That’s our goal, to give more breath to Latin American offerings rather than focusing on one nationality,” Vega said. “It’s kind of the greatest hits – things people have … been exposed to, but haven’t seen as much in the market.”
Vega and the Wessels signed a 20-year lease including options to extend. The space, which is owned by Jordon Perlmutter & Co., was formerly home to the pizza place Oregano’s, which Vega said closed last year, and Romano’s Macaroni Grill before that.
“We didn’t want to follow it up with another Italian concept,” Vega said. “I happen to be El Salvadorian so I always enjoy broadening the cuisine and including more Latin American options rather than just focusing on Mexico.”
Vega said the name is a nod to Denver’s geography. A mesa is a flat-topped mountain.
The building was previously home to Oregano’s. (Google Street View)
The ownership group is investing roughly $1 million in construction and renovation of the 6,000-square-foot-space, Vega said. He anticipates hiring 80 employees and opening about three months after permits are approved.
“We wanted, like the Lake House, to have a new identity and really be different,” Vega said. “We wouldn’t want to hold back or cut corners.”
Vega said he and Wessel are deeply connected to the neighborhood, with family members nearby and a Le Peep location across the street.
“How great would it be to open our second space across the parking lot?” Vega asked BusinessDen during a Tuesday call. “It makes it easier … when you want to do a second location and keep your eyes on both the spaces.”
Before partnering with the Wessels, Vega owned Mario’s Ocean Club on South Broadway, but ultimately closed it and sold the lease to focus on Lake House, whose menu includes seafood, fried chicken and sandwiches. He said they’re also working on Italian and American restaurant concepts, but haven’t found the right space yet.
“What we’d love to do is create a boutique restaurant concept in the Denver area, where we’ll have multiple brands,” Vega said. “We want to get great locations and really serve the community in areas that are underserved.”
Mario Vega (far left), Le Peep CEO Kevin Wessell (far right) and Kate Wessel (center front) with other family members. (Courtesy Mario Vega)
The team behind Littleton’s Lake House Kitchen & Tavern is opening a new concept in the same shopping center.
Mario Vega and his business partners, Kevin and Kate Wessel, are opening Mesa Latin Kitchen at 8156 W. Bowles Ave. Kevin Vessel is also the CEO of breakfast chain Le Peep.
The restaurant will offer a variety of Latin American food, Vega said, such as ceviche, paella and Brazilian- and Argentinian-style steak.
“That’s our goal, to give more breath to Latin American offerings rather than focusing on one nationality,” Vega said. “It’s kind of the greatest hits – things people have … been exposed to, but haven’t seen as much in the market.”
Vega and the Wessels signed a 20-year lease including options to extend. The space, which is owned by Jordon Perlmutter & Co., was formerly home to the pizza place Oregano’s, which Vega said closed last year, and Romano’s Macaroni Grill before that.
“We didn’t want to follow it up with another Italian concept,” Vega said. “I happen to be El Salvadorian so I always enjoy broadening the cuisine and including more Latin American options rather than just focusing on Mexico.”
Vega said the name is a nod to Denver’s geography. A mesa is a flat-topped mountain.
The building was previously home to Oregano’s. (Google Street View)
The ownership group is investing roughly $1 million in construction and renovation of the 6,000-square-foot-space, Vega said. He anticipates hiring 80 employees and opening about three months after permits are approved.
“We wanted, like the Lake House, to have a new identity and really be different,” Vega said. “We wouldn’t want to hold back or cut corners.”
Vega said he and Wessel are deeply connected to the neighborhood, with family members nearby and a Le Peep location across the street.
“How great would it be to open our second space across the parking lot?” Vega asked BusinessDen during a Tuesday call. “It makes it easier … when you want to do a second location and keep your eyes on both the spaces.”
Before partnering with the Wessels, Vega owned Mario’s Ocean Club on South Broadway, but ultimately closed it and sold the lease to focus on Lake House, whose menu includes seafood, fried chicken and sandwiches. He said they’re also working on Italian and American restaurant concepts, but haven’t found the right space yet.
“What we’d love to do is create a boutique restaurant concept in the Denver area, where we’ll have multiple brands,” Vega said. “We want to get great locations and really serve the community in areas that are underserved.”
