Owner Amos Watts, formerly of Corrida, Acorn and Old Major, opened The Fifth String in LoHi in August 2020. (Provided by The Fifth String via The Denver Post)
Jon Schlegel had spent months unsuccessfully searching for someone to finally open the kitchen at his Ballpark winery when a friend called with a promising lead.
A mile away, Amos Watts was scrambling to find a new location for his LoHi restaurant, The Fifth String.
“I’d been a fan since he was at Acorn and Old Major,” Schlegel said.
The talks went well. Schlegel said Monday that The Fifth String is moving into Attimo Wine’s space at 2246 Larimer St. A dinner was held over the weekend for Attimo wine club members, and Schlegel expects the restaurant to open to the public for dinner by Sept. 19.
“His reputation for food quality and creativity spoke for himself and the timing was amazing because at Attimo, we’d been handicapped by not being able to open the tasting room more,” Schlegel said.
Jon Schlegel
Schlegel, who also co-founded the brunch chain Snooze, opened Attimo in January 2020. The pandemic derailed his plans to bring in a restaurateur, but he restarted the search about nine months ago.
The Fifth String, which also opened in 2020, closed its original location at 3316 Tejon St. in August. According to signs posted outside, Nana’s Dim Sum and Dumplings is taking over that space.
Watts, who didn’t respond to requests for comment for this story, told The Denver Post last month he had originally had a different new space lined up, but that deal fell through.
At Attimo, Schlegel said The Fifth String essentially moved into a “turnkey” restaurant space, avoiding buildout costs.
“Amos lost that deal with his former space, and rent prices, construction and brand-new builds are really tough,” Schlegel said.
Schlegel said Watts will take over about 5,000 of Attimo’s 8,000 square feet, including a tasting room, an outdoor patio and an event space. There’s room for about 225 seats.
“The numbers, the fluidity, the professionalism, the energy – it just felt cohesive,” Schlegel said. “And his (Watts) food is on point.”
The menu is largely the same, but with a few new dishes, Schlegel said.
Attimo sources all of its grapes from Italy and has about 15 bottled wines, Schlegel said. With Watts controlling the kitchen, he said he can focus on wine production, tastings and tours.
“I’ve been in the restaurant business since I was 14, and I’m really excited to … (hand) the keys to somebody and let them accomplish their dream,” Schlegel said.
Next to Attimo, the original Snooze restaurant is doubling in size. On the other end of the block, the restaurant group behind My Neighbor Felix and ViewHouse is opening a new concept called Wonderyard.
“Watch out for Larimer right now at 22nd and Park Ave — we’re going to make a difference,” Schlegel said.
Owner Amos Watts, formerly of Corrida, Acorn and Old Major, opened The Fifth String in LoHi in August 2020. (Provided by The Fifth String via The Denver Post)
Jon Schlegel had spent months unsuccessfully searching for someone to finally open the kitchen at his Ballpark winery when a friend called with a promising lead.
A mile away, Amos Watts was scrambling to find a new location for his LoHi restaurant, The Fifth String.
“I’d been a fan since he was at Acorn and Old Major,” Schlegel said.
The talks went well. Schlegel said Monday that The Fifth String is moving into Attimo Wine’s space at 2246 Larimer St. A dinner was held over the weekend for Attimo wine club members, and Schlegel expects the restaurant to open to the public for dinner by Sept. 19.
“His reputation for food quality and creativity spoke for himself and the timing was amazing because at Attimo, we’d been handicapped by not being able to open the tasting room more,” Schlegel said.
Jon Schlegel
Schlegel, who also co-founded the brunch chain Snooze, opened Attimo in January 2020. The pandemic derailed his plans to bring in a restaurateur, but he restarted the search about nine months ago.
The Fifth String, which also opened in 2020, closed its original location at 3316 Tejon St. in August. According to signs posted outside, Nana’s Dim Sum and Dumplings is taking over that space.
Watts, who didn’t respond to requests for comment for this story, told The Denver Post last month he had originally had a different new space lined up, but that deal fell through.
At Attimo, Schlegel said The Fifth String essentially moved into a “turnkey” restaurant space, avoiding buildout costs.
“Amos lost that deal with his former space, and rent prices, construction and brand-new builds are really tough,” Schlegel said.
Schlegel said Watts will take over about 5,000 of Attimo’s 8,000 square feet, including a tasting room, an outdoor patio and an event space. There’s room for about 225 seats.
“The numbers, the fluidity, the professionalism, the energy – it just felt cohesive,” Schlegel said. “And his (Watts) food is on point.”
The menu is largely the same, but with a few new dishes, Schlegel said.
Attimo sources all of its grapes from Italy and has about 15 bottled wines, Schlegel said. With Watts controlling the kitchen, he said he can focus on wine production, tastings and tours.
“I’ve been in the restaurant business since I was 14, and I’m really excited to … (hand) the keys to somebody and let them accomplish their dream,” Schlegel said.
Next to Attimo, the original Snooze restaurant is doubling in size. On the other end of the block, the restaurant group behind My Neighbor Felix and ViewHouse is opening a new concept called Wonderyard.
“Watch out for Larimer right now at 22nd and Park Ave — we’re going to make a difference,” Schlegel said.
