The Curatorial Decisions Behind the Populist

The Populist, slated to open next month will be a "well-curated gathering place for the community." This full-service restaurant will consider every detail from the custom aprons from Tin Man Provisions to its coffee program offering espresso, pour-over, and chemex. Beverage director, John Ingle will make his own bitters, liquors, and syrups in an effort to keep prices of cocktails $10 or less.

At his coffeeshop Crema, owner Noah Price told Eater some of Populist's intentions.

You did the design and construction for Crema and The Populist yourself, do you have a design background? I have always done art and design, I studied it all through high school and college. I ended up getting a major in art and business with a minor in marketing. In college I joined up with two friends who started DVLP Clothing. We moved the company to Denver. I did design and marketing. We also received the Mayor's Design Award for Crema.

You said everything at the Populist will be highly curated, what does that mean? Everything has intention, everything has a place. With so many products out there, we have to be very specific about the ones we chose. We have a huge responsibility to get the best products we can find to the community of the Populist. Whether it is the ingredients in the kitchen and behind the bar, the wine list, or the art on the walls. This a style of dining, eating and drinking, and some people will not agree with our curatorial decisions. But we are not here to please everyone.

We feel no need to bring in inferior products or some new flavored vodka. If we do it right, and can make the right decisions, we will create an environment where people want to spend time with friends and family. A place that feels like home but with people taking very good care of them & they don't have to do the dishes.

Do you have a staff yet?
Yes. We have six super strong women-career waitresses and gentleman in ties behind the bar. We want to be a place for people that want to do this as their career.

—Laura Saffioti
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