Hop Alley: The New Eatery and Bar from the Uncle Team

Construction started last week at the spot we have been calling Bar Uncle since February. Now that things are starting to take shape, Tommy Lee, who also owns Uncle in LoHi, revealed the name of his new venture: Hop Alley.

Located at 3500 Larimer Street, next door to Metroboom, the 1,900 square foot space will seat around 48 guests in the dining room with another 9 seats at the bar. With an aesthetic and vibe similar to that at Uncle, Lee's new culinary venture will focus around a wood-fired grill and wok burners. Expect traditional, regional Chinese cuisine served mostly in family-style dishes, but also a unique spin on other Asian ideas. A complete wine, liquor, and beer program will complement the food.

The name of the upcoming eatery, Hop Alley, was the nickname of the original Chinatown in Downtown Denver in the 1870's. The area was bound roughly by 19th Street, 22nd Streeet, Blake and Market, according to Lee. The spot was destroyed in the 1880's during a race riot and rebuilt. In the 1940's the area was razed completely for the sake of urban development.