Photo by: Jacob Rokeach
Local Colorado business owners say they are taking advantage of an “under-served market” and expanding their businesses near the University of Denver campus.
Illegal Pete’s is scheduled to open this summer and Stick-e-Star reopened with a new partnership and an updated menu.
Illegal Pete’s Restaurant has taken space at 1744 E. Evans Ave., replacing Piccalo’s 42-year reign at the location.
Illegal Pete’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with “mission style Mexican food, with a more So-Cal style with things like fish tacos,” said owner Pete Turner.
Illegal Pete’s menu makes it a close rival for the student-popular Chipotle on Evans Avenue and Gilpin Street.
However, Turner is confident of the opportunities available to him.
“We are different enough than Chipotle, and we compete really well,” he said. “It really doesn’t worry me. We are a good fit for DU.”
Illegal Pete’s is looking to fill a niche in this underdeveloped market.
“I think the DU area is an under-served market, especially in terms of entertainment and bars,” said Turner.
Unlike Chipotle, Illegal Pete’s caters to students’ night time food needs with a full bar and late-night service.
Turner, a University of Colorado at Boulder graduate, opened his first Illegal Pete’s on Aug. 15, 1995.
Since the first location in Boulder, Turner has expanded his privately owned restaurant into a total of five locations, including two in Boulder, one in downtown Denver, one in the Denver Tech Center and one at Park Meadows.
However, Turner, a Washington Park native, looks forward to doing business near the DU campus.
“It’s very exciting to be in the area. It seems to me that DU is on an upswing and growing. I feel confident in our team and I welcome the challenges. This is a growing company and it’s a fun business to be in,” he said.
Another locally owned restaurant, formerly Stick-e-rice and newly named Stick-e-Star, located on 2070 S. University Blvd., reopened in November after a year closure.
Mike Schettler and Ton Phairatahiboon, both DU graduates, collaborated in a business merger between Star Market and Stick-e-rice to create the new restaurant Stick-e-Star.
“Our menu is based on an East meets West food flair, with a creative home-style cooking,” said Schettler.
Schettler and Phairatahiboon have 30 years of restaurant and business experience between the two of them.
“Our goal is to keep meals affordable for students and faculty. We provide quality food at a great price,” said Schettler.
Like Illegal Pete’s, Stick-e-Star has a full bar, open at night in order to cater more fully to students.
“It gets crazy and it’s a whole lot of fun,” said Schettler.
Schettler and Phairatahiboon have developed a catering and delivery service which supports and caters for many DU athletic teams.
Schettler’s degree from DU in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management along with Phairatahiboon’s finance degree make them a team whose business interests are geared towards the DU community.
“We’re an independently owned local restaurant and we have a great mix of food. You just have to try it,” said Schettler.
The final menu will be complete Feb. 1, available on their Website at http://www.starmarketandcatering.com/index.html.
You can also see Illegal Pete’s full menu on www.illegalpetes.com.
