After Four Decades, La Loma Restaurant Leaves Jefferson Park

A family-owned business founded by the Mendozas in 1973 just one block away from the current location, La Loma Mexican Restaurant has been a staple of the Jefferson Park neighborhood. This spring that will be no more. The Tex Mex eatery located at 2527 W. 26th Avenue since 1981 was faced with an expiring lease and a lack of opportunity to renew because of upcoming development.

Mark Brinkerhoff, who has been an owner at La Loma since 1981, has seen this as opportunity for growth and planned not only a move but also an expansion. "We've outgrown our current location, and we want to serve our loyal guests more efficiently," he said.

There will soon be a La Loma downtown (exact address to be announced) and then a new flagship location near the Denver Aquarium will be underway. Within two years, a Castle Rock location will join the fray. Brinkerhoff is also planning to open Sierra Grill, a wood-fired grill restaurant focused on the flavors of the southwest in the RidgeGate community.

"The new locations will have many of the same features that are displayed in the original location, most likely the stained glass, fireplace, some of the roofing and bricks, and the infamous Grandma Mendoza painting -- but in exciting, new spaces," Brinkerhoff shared. "The downtown location will serve our current clientele while we're building the new flagship restaurant across from the Aquarium," he continued.

Nostalgic guests of La Loma should dash to the current location one more time. They are also invited by the restaurant to share experiences of the original location on Facebook using the hashtag #LaLoma1973.