Regulars to Denver Milk Market, inside Dairy Block downtown, may have noticed some subtle changes. You’re not crazy, a lot has quietly been happening at the 11-concept food hall. Namely, new ownership, tweaks to the setting, and some fresh food options.
The Dairy Block opened in 2018, with chef Frank Bonanno of Bonanno Concepts (Luca, Mizuno, Osteria Marco, Salt & Grinder), filling Milk Market, the food hall inside the building. Originally 16 concepts graced the 17,000-square-foot space, including a butchery with large sandwiches and burgers, crepes, fried chicken, pizza, pasta, bao buns, salads, and more.
Now, Sage Hospitality Group, who runs the Maven Hotel, Kachina Cantina, and Poka Lola Social Club in the same space, has taken over the property fully. Overseeing Milk Market is executive chef Jamie Rutherford, who doubles as the general manager too.
A lot of those ideas have stayed, even sporting the same names. For example, Albina by the Sea, the seafood stand dishing up fried fish tacos, lobster rolls, and clam chowder. There’s also Moo Bar churning out craft cocktails, Mo Poke for poke bowls, and Morning Jones, which serves really good boba, cookies, and pastries.
Jim Pittenger, otherwise known as Biker Jim, makes up the new lineup. Last month Pittenger had a legal dispute with his business partner, resulting in him stepping away from Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs, the brand he created in 2005. Now, Biker Jim’s is back and doing a Bikers & Bakers pop-up at Lou’s Hot & Naked outpost.
Bikers & Bakers runs every Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. During the evening hours look for Pittenger’s gourmet sausages including jalapeño-cheddar elk, classic hot dogs, wild boar, and bacon-cheddar brats. The dogs come with plenty of toppings such as cream cheese, bacon, and caramelized onions. Brunch on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon get’s a little sweeter with lemon ricotta pancakes, sour cream waffles, and more. Fried chicken continues to grace the Lou’s menu, and is available at all times.
Aside from Bikers & Bakers, new concepts include Bos Butcher & Deli, which replaces Ruth’s Butchery. However it’s not much different, the stall still serves burgers and large deli sandwiches. Bos continues to use LoDough bread too, from the bakery owned by Austrian Jan Kratzer, who opened it in 2021.
Fuso takes over the pizza and Italian food, churning out hand-tossed pies and hearty bowls of pasta. Also look for Ghost Tortilla doing tacos and burrito bowls. And, for dessert, Little Man Ice Cream is now the featured treat at Cornicello.
Another big change to Milk Market comes in the way diners now get and pay for the meal. Save for the bar, Morning Jones, and the ice cream shop, food orders get placed on touch screens located at each spot. The idea, said Rutherford, is to give the staff more opportunities to walk the space and help guests as needed, rather than be stuck at a counter the whole time. It also allows for staff to service the alley, an outdoor space offering a whole vibe of its own.
The new outlay includes a game area with free games such as Skee-Ball, Pac-Man, and shuffleboard. Also look for a fresh coat of paint, new seating options, and colorful murals perfect for selfies. Denver Milk Market will also continue its popular Drag Queen Bingo Brunch, hosted every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Look for other events too. The goal, said Sage Hospitality, is to bring locals and tourists alike to enjoy the vast space, which really does offer a little something for everyone.
Visit Denver Milk Market Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 1800 Wazee St., Denver, denvermilkmarket.com
