GBX Announces French-American Diner Champagne Tiger as New Tenant for Historic Tom’s Diner

DENVER, COLORADO – GBX Group LLC formally announced today that Champagne Tiger, a high energy French-American diner that specializes in “champagne fueled” events, has leased 601 East Colfax Ave in Denver. Preparations are underway to re-brand and have a soft open of this location, most recently known as Tom’s Starlight. By the week of August 26th Champagne Tiger will begin accepting reservations for dinner five nights a week and brunch on weekends, including Denver’s most luxurious Drag Brunch every Sunday. Reservations can be made on their website, www.champagnetiger.com.

Champagne Tiger promises a long-sought-after dining option on the iconic East Colfax Avenue. Serving dinner five nights a week and brunch on Saturday and Sunday, Champagne Tiger will highlight a blend of elevated American diner fare, bistro classics, thoughtful cocktails, and weekly entertainment, including Denver's most luxurious Drag Brunch on Sundays and cabaret piano performances on Wednesdays which will feature a rotating three-course pasta special. The space is uniquely situated for people to celebrate special occasions and gather with friends.

“It’s exciting to turn the page following Tom’s retirement as our new tenant helps write the next chapter for this historic Denver diner. Champagne Tiger intends to add French- American flair to the building’s futuristic design with their high-energy concept, taking full advantage of the renovated bars, interior spaces, and oversized patio,” said Brian Cappelli, GBX President of Real Estate. “Denverites should stay tuned to what’s next for this neighborhood fixture, with special events and experiences on deck.”

Formerly branded as Tom's Diner, an iconic 24/7 hotspot, the historic structure built in 1967 as a White Spot restaurant was at the center of local preservation efforts in recent years. With help from GBX Group LLC, Historic Denver, Colorado Historical Foundation, and former owner/operator, Tom Messina, the building ultimately was saved from demolition in 2020 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its unique post-World War II Googie Style architecture.

“The community rallied to help save the beloved diner at Colfax and Pearl and its distinct Googie architecture,” said Colorado Historical Foundation’s Executive Director Catherine Stroh. “The end result was a win-win scenario that united GBX and Messina behind a plan to protect this structure and continue providing locals a great place to eat. We’re excited to see new tenants continuing to activate this treasured landmark that will be a fixture for years to come.” The historic facade of this iconic building is permanently protected through a historic preservation easement granted to the Colorado Historical Foundation.

The exterior of the building has been rehabilitated according to National Park Service standards, maintaining the historic character of the building. The parking lot of the property was converted into an outdoor space that resembles a Palm Springs-style indoor-outdoor cocktail lounge – complete with an outdoor bar, cabanas, fire pits, and a waterfall. The Colorado Historical Foundation oversaw and approved all exterior aspects of the preservation and rehabilitation of the building.

Messina re-opened the property as “Tom’s Starlight” and operated for over a year, at a time when Denver and the rest of the hospitality world was recovering from the COVID 19 pandemic. Messina officially retired at the end of 2023, at which point a search for a new tenant commenced.

Champagne Tiger owner Chris Donato is a veteran of the Frasca Hospitality Group, where he previously served as Brand Director for Pizzeria Locale. His vision for Champagne Tiger is to create a celebratory experience that combines culinary excellence with unbridled exuberance and joy.

“We couldn’t be more excited to take this concept from pop-up to a permanent home on East Colfax. We aim to establish ourselves as the city’s premier destination for everyday merrymaking, the kick-off to memorable nights out, and the premier option for exceptional private events. Whether in our intimate private dining room or on our back patio accommodating over 100 guests, we intend to make every occasion special,” said Donato.

Champagne Tiger expects to begin operating regular business hours in September 2024. For more information visit: https://www.champagnetiger.com/

About GBX Group LLC
GBX Group LLC specializes in acquiring, preserving, and operating historic real estate in urban markets. The company partners with investors to fund the purchase and preservation of historic real estate with the goal of generating community revitalization and economic growth. As of January 2024, GBX has been involved in 202 real estate projects in 24 states. For more about GBX, visit gbxgroup.com/.

About Champagne Tiger
Founder of the Great American Bubbles & French Fry Festival in 2016. Champagne Tiger brings an approachable dining experience, designed to cater to a diverse audience seeking to celebrate every day with unmatched hospitality, and a touch of extravagance, sharing high/low sensibilities that have been established with the popular Champagne Tiger popups found throughout Denver & Boulder since 2021.