Kevin Taylor and Son Ryan Plan Hickory & Ash in Broomfield

Hickory & Ash is restaurateur Kevin Taylor's newest project, the first one in which his son Ryan will be a partner and the head chef. The wood-fire grill spot will open in March next year in a 5,000 square foot space in the Arista development in Broomfield.

"Doing something outside of Denver in growing districts where there is less concentration of new restaurants presents a greater opportunity for both operator and consumers," Kevin shared.

While pursuing this project, the longtime restaurateur announced that he is no longer opening the beer garden concept with which the Stanley Marketplace launched. He made his decision as the building of an on-site kitchen in the Hangar event space was postponed until a subsequent phase of construction. Kevin shared that he "had planned to operate both entities initially, but when building plans were adjusted, both the developer and Kevin Taylor Restaurant Group mutually agreed another entity should operate the restaurant, as the synergies were not as great from an operational perspective." He remains an owner and advisor in the Aurora project.

North of Denver, half-way to Boulder, Hickory & Ash is in the process of being designed by Kevin Taylor and local architect Riddick Semple. With rustic décor, the restaurant will feature 120 seats, two private dining rooms, and a 60-seat outdoor patio where lunch, dinner, and brunch will be served.

The focus of the father-and-son team, one in the making since Ryan was only 15 years old, is on sustainably and locally-sourced produce. A classic yet modern menu will bring dishes like lump crab parfait with avocado, gazpacho, and shrimp crackers; short rib pastrami with Brussels sprouts and mustard on pumpernickel; and glazed bone-in pork chop with Brussels, apricot, and buttermilk grits. Custom cocktails, local beers, and an extensive wine list will also be available.

Ryan Taylor is currently the executive chef at Kevin Taylor's at the Opera House. Since starting to cook 12 years ago, he has held positions at Mugaritz, a two Michelin starred restaurant in San Sebastian, Spain, as well as a selection of popular Denver restaurants.

The home of the upcoming restaurant, Arista, is a 200-acre master-planned transit oriented development with an entertainment anchor, the First Bank Center. "We always wanted to bring a chef-driven place to our community," says Tim Wiens, of Wiens Real Estate Ventures, the development company behind Arista. "Kevin is the godfather of chef driven operations in this area and our partnership with him one of the most exciting ones," he continued. Wiens shared that more restaurants are in the works for the main street at Arista.