Etai's Cafe Celebrates 10 Years in Stapleton, Braun's Closes in Arvada

Ten years ago, Udi's Cafe opened in the Stapleton Town Center at 7357 E. 29th Avenue. While the spot changed its name to Etai's Cafe last year, everything else from ownership to menu remained the same. To celebrate the decade spent in the still-growing neighborhood, the casual eatery known for its fresh juices, pastries, and approachable fare will host a weekend long celebration on August 29 and 30. Festivities will include giveaways and activities for the kids, plus complimentary food and free beer (from Crazy Mountain Brewing Company) and other surprises.

Bonus: A special menu featuring nostalgic dishes and free cookies will be available all month long. Now through September, like Etai's on Facebook for a chance to win a sandwich (or salad) a week for an entire year.

While the Stapleton eatery is thriving, the Bar-on family, which owns Etai's, has closed one of its two Arvada ventures, Braun's Braun's Taphaus & Grille. The German taphouse that opened at the end of 2013 at 5601 Olde Wadsworth Boulevard served as an elevated sports bar of sorts that offered some 20 beers on draft plus more in bottles. The food menu featured dishes like the portobello "Juicy Lucy," the Biker Jim sausage dog, three types of gourmet nachos, plus Buffalo wings and other bar snacks. A couple of weeks ago, Braun's shuttered. "The construction just killed our business and it's such a hot neighborhood right now that we decided to sell," owner Etai Bar-on explained. Sylvi's Kitchen Arvada, which the Bar-on family also owns, continues to serve the neighborhood.