Pull to refresh
Logo
Busaba Thai applies for liquor licence at former Zoe Ma Ma space near Union Station

Busaba Thai applies for liquor licence at former Zoe Ma Ma space near Union Station

Built World Denver, CO local

Boulder chain with five locations moves toward first Denver restaurant

Yesterday: Construction permit appears

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Busaba Thai, a Boulder chain with five locations, is working toward its first Denver restaurant. It has applied for a liquor licence and pulled a construction permit for the former Zoe Ma Ma space at 1625 Wynkoop St, next to Union Station.

Owner Shekhar Pokhrel signed a five-year lease and plans an 85-seat restaurant with a larger bar than his other locations. The 3,000-square-foot space has sat empty since Zoe Ma Ma closed in early 2025 after a decade in business. Pokhrel has said he expects to open this fall.

Why it matters

If Busaba opens, downtown Denver gains a Thai option near Union Station, filling a space empty since early 2025.

Monday: what changed in Denver, CO

One short email a week with the openings, closings, permits and council votes we covered. Free. Unsubscribe in one click.

Questions about this story

Free account needed to ask — your question is kept and asked for you right after sign-up. Answers are public.

No questions yet — be the first to ask.

Key Indicators

5
Existing Busaba locations
Busaba has five locations across the Boulder metro.
3,000 sq ft
Space size
The former Zoe Ma Ma space is 3,000 square feet.
85
Planned indoor seats
The restaurant will seat 85 people inside.
5-year
Lease term
Pokhrel signed a five-year lease for the space.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Ever wondered what historical figures would say about today's headlines?

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

2025 October 2026

4 events Latest: Yesterday
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. Construction permit appears

    Latest Permit

    Construction permit for alteration and tenant finish appears for the address.

  2. Liquor licence application appears

    Licensing

    Busaba's liquor licence application appears on Denver's pending list.

  3. Busaba announces Denver plan

    Announcement

    Busaba announces plan to open at former Zoe Ma Ma space this fall.

  4. Zoe Ma Ma closes

    Closure

    Zoe Ma Ma closes after a decade at 1625 Wynkoop St.

Scenarios

1

Busaba Thai opens at Union Station

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Denver Post, BusinessDen, WhatNow

Busaba completes its build-out and opens at 1625 Wynkoop St as planned. The construction permit covers mostly cosmetic changes since Zoe Ma Ma's kitchen is still in good shape. The liquor licence is granted, allowing the full-service bar and daily happy hours.

2

Opening slips into 2027

Possible Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: WhatNow, Westword

Construction or licensing delays push the opening past fall. The build-out is described as largely cosmetic, but permitting and inspections can still take time. Busaba announces a revised opening date in 2027.

3

Liquor licence hits a snag

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Denver city records

Denver denies or delays the liquor licence, affecting the full-service bar and happy hour plans. The restaurant could still open with beer and wine only, or the licence could be approved after a hearing.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2014-2025

Zoe Ma Ma at 1625 Wynkoop (2014-2025)

Zoe Ma Ma, a Chinese restaurant, operated at 1625 Wynkoop St for more than a decade. It was a Union Station staple before closing in early 2025.

Then

The space sat empty for over a year.

Now

The kitchen remained in good shape, making it easier for a new tenant to take over.

Why this matters now

The same address and space Busaba is now working to fill.

2010-2019

Busaba's founding and growth (2010-2019)

Suthinee "Mama" Phairatphilboon founded Busaba in 2010 in Louisville with recipes from Bangkok. Shekhar Pokhrel bought the business seven years later and expanded it to five locations.

Then

The chain grew across the Boulder metro.

Now

Pokhrel built a customer base that asked for a Denver location.

Why this matters now

Shows how a small local chain grew to the point of expanding into Denver.

Sources

(4)