Cool Modern Neo-Bistro Emmerson Gets Ready to Open

Emmerson is a dream of owner Ben Kaplan, one that is finally coming to fruition at 1600 Pearl Street in Boulder. The “neo-bistro,” as it describes itself will launch on Thursday, August 24 with breakfast, lunch, and dinner — and soon thereafter brunch, created by a team of heavy hitters. The teams includes chefs and partners Michael Gibney and Jeb Breakell, longtime friends who moved from New York to join the project; cocktail curator Nancy Kwon, who recently left Los Angeles, and locals Ben Foote (beverage director and assistant general manager) and Tre Gerbitz (general manager) who are both partners in the business.

The former home of LYFE Kitchen and the Gondolier prior to that has been transformed into a bright, powdery, soft room that fluidly separates into a café space in the front, a bar where the energy already seems high, and a dining area dominated by a showpiece community table. The entryway is a stunner, a ceiling-high wrap-around bookcase displaying a fun collection of items from art pieces to antique small household items, books and bronze unicorns.

Possibly the best seats in the house for kitchen voyeurs are separated by a window from the pastry counter. For those seeking an intimate good time with their friends, a private dining room enveloped in a black-and-white Brooklyn-themed wallpaper has space for up to 14 guests.

Here’s a look inside the space that is now Emmerson.

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