Chef Hosea Rosenberg didn’t need to open another location of Blackbelly, his original Boulder shop has done well since opening in 2014. But, after chef Bill Miner decided to close his popular Berkley spot, Il Porcellino Salumi, in order to concentrate on wholesale expansion, Rosenberg seized the opportunity. Now, the new Blackbelly Market will open on Thursday, March 14.
“We weren’t looking for a place in Denver, or seeking it out,” said Rosenberg, who also runs Santo in Boulder under the Little Piggy Hospitality group. “He [Miner] wanted to sell the space with everything in it and it made so much sense for us, we had wanted to increase our salumi production and it’s about as turnkey as you can get.”
Basically, he added, he bought the entire place with all furnishings and equipment at the beginning of February, 2024. This included tools to make salumi, cases to hold raw meat, shelves, counter space and more. The only changes the Blackbelly team made consisted of new tables and chairs and some freshening up of the decor and paint.
“It was basically a Blackbelly already so we could expand easily,” said Lauren Feder Rosenberg, Hosea’s wife and business partner. “The timing was serendipitous, we were just talking about how to increase the salumi production.”
Even if you’ve never been to Blackbelly or Santo in Boulder, eaters know the name Hosea Rosenberg. After all, he won Top Chef, season 5, and has garnered many accolades including a green Michelin star in 2023 for his restaurant and market. Before Rosenberg opened his brick and mortar, he ran a food truck, farm, and catering business of the same name.
The Rosenbergs originally built Blackbelly with the idea to showcase whole-animal butchery, one of a handful of places in Colorado to truly do it. While the Denver location won’t have the space for processing whole animals, or as many cuts of meat as the Boulder one, visitors can expect a lot of delicious salumi, fresh pork, house-made pickles, sauces, hand-crafted dried pasta, and more.
That’s just to take home, there’s more for those looking to dine in or get something ready-to-go. The chef said his famous breakfast burritos will be the main morning offering, including the O.G with eggs, gluten-free Hatch chile, tater tots, and cheese. Also look for Huckleberry coffee and other easy-to-grab fare.
On the lunch side, expect homemade soups, salads and a grain bowl with choice of falafel, smoked pork, or chicken. Like its predecessor, epic sandwiches grace the menu too. Look for The Little Piggy with capicola, soppressata, ham, herb aioli, romaine, pickled peppers, and red wine vinaigrette on pillowy ciabatta bread. Also try a Bánh Mì, Smoked Turkey Club, and Reuben, plus other sandwich delights. Soon, the chef added, they will have a beer and wine license too.
“We looked at spaces in Denver in the past, but it never made sense for us,” said Rosenberg, adding that he and his wife needed to be closer to their Boulder home to help support Sophie, their daughter who suffers from a rare genetic disorder, Multicentric Carpotarsal Osteolysis. In fact, the Rosenbergs started Sophie’s Neighborhood, an nonprofit aimed to help get funds to research her condition.
After everything they have been doing, when the opportunity to take the space came up, it felt like the right time they said. It also only took six weeks to get the eatery ready for opening. So far, they added, it’s been a good decision. They love the Berkeley neighborhood and feel a lot of energy there.
Plus, by opening Blackbelly Market it helps ease the pain residents felt over losing Il Porcellino Salumi. If anything was going to take Miner’s beloved sandwich and meat shop away, at least it’s something just as good to keep the sentiment going. As a bonus, given the turnaround, the original workforce was mostly able to stay on with the new business.
“We are so excited and we can’t wait to get everyone in there,” said the chef. And, starting Thursday at 7 a.m., you can.
Visit Blackbelly Market Denver from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. 4324 W. 41st Ave., Denver, blackbelly.com
Good For:
Meat lovers
To-go food
Quick meals
Deli
Families
