Denver couple plans to open new wine bar, Room for Friends, on Santa Fe in May

Heather David and Michael Vela needed more space for mates.

The few have been hosting evening meal functions and wine tastings at their 1,100-square-foot condominium in Cap Hill for the final 4 a long time, going from eight men and women at a time to 24.

“Michael is an exceptional cook dinner. So, he needed to display off his techniques to our close friends and make them consider new meals,” David claimed. “We always finished up hoping the various wines individuals introduced.”

Vela added, “I had an obsession with trying new recipes, and spent several hours wanting at YouTube video clips and going to the library. Our buddies were the excellent guinea pigs.”

Their very first thought was to obtain a house to have far more area for hosting. Vela, 31, and David, 43, applied for a loan. But immediately after seeking at the slender inventory on the sector, they couldn’t obtain something they preferred.

Just one evening whilst selecting up some evening meal, the pair pulled up in entrance of a creating that they assumed would be fantastic for a wine bar.

“We ended up sitting down in the car or truck, and I just seemed at Michael and said, ‘Let’s do it. Instead of obtaining a house, let’s open a small business,’” David claimed.

Vela included, “If we can get authorized for a $500,000 property finance loan, what is a $50,000 small business personal loan?”

So, they swapped the household hunt for a commercial serious estate search.

They did not conclusion up in the developing that sparked the inspiration. As an alternative, they landed at 846 Santa Fe Drive, a place in the heart of the Arts District on Santa Fe exactly where they strategy to open up a wine bar referred to as Room for Pals in Could.

The few signed a 5-year lease in November for the 1,500-sq.-foot house with a 1,000-sq.-foot patio. It was beforehand residence to a hat and clothes store.

“There’s no wine bar in the Arts District, and most organizations in this article close around 9 p.m. So, we want to give men and women a cause to stick close to at evening,” David mentioned.

Space for Friends will provide a assortment of wine and beer. And Vela will be cooking dishes he previously examined at those evening meal parties, including a French onion soup and short rib tartine and his acquire on a croque monsieur.

Vela and David have used around $30,000 so considerably to get the enterprise operating and spruce up the place, including creating a new bar with wine coolers and introducing some cozy couches and quirky mismatched furniture. They acquired an SBA personal loan, but are usually self-funding the venture.