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A new restaurant, Crimson and Gold Tavern, is opening at 2017 South University Blvd, the former location of Aroma Café.

Aroma recently closed after opening less than a year ago.

Brothers Kevin and Craig Caldwell, Crimson and Gold’s owners and operating team, finalized the lease on the property in December, and hope to open between April and May.

The restaurant’s emphasis will be on high-quality burgers, said Kevin Caldwell.

The restaurant also will serve sandwich specials during the day.  Dinner entrees, including steaks with veggie sides, will round out the men in the evening.

The restaurant may eventually serve breakfast as well, though the focus will be on the lunch and dinner menus.

The brothers hope to attract students, faculty, staff and administrators from DU, as well as community members from surrounding neighborhoods. 

The atmosphere of the restaurant will be a comfortable, neighborhood restaurant for people to come during the day and relax.There will be free Wi-Fi.

The Caldwells are waiting for approval of their liquor license. After their license is granted, they plan to start renovating the property, which they hope will be in mid-to-late February. 

Like the restaurant’s name, the interior design and decoration will echo the pride and legacy of DU. 

“We will leverage the tradition of DU sports and athletics,” said Caldwell.

As one of the closest dining establishments to the Ritchie Center, the brothers hope to draw not only the hockey and basketball crowds, but also those attending all types of community events at the center.

The type of liquor license the Caldwells applied for will allow them to host live music, though they do not have plans for any performances at this time.

They will primarily be a dining establishment at night, and they do not plan to be part of the late night drinking scene on University Blvd.

The Crimson and Gold will be very, very strict on ID’s, said Caldwell. 

Though they aren’t going to be part of the DU bar-hopping scene, they will be fairly relaxed on the 10 p.m. closing time if customers are enjoying themselves, he said.

“We don’t want to be a party bar, but if there are people still at the restaurant having a good time, we would stay open past 10,” said Caldwell.