Recess Village Park applies for liquor licence, construction permit in Denver

Overview

Updated 56 minutes ago

Recess Village Park, a project from the owners of LoHi's Recess Beer Garden, has applied for a hotel and restaurant liquor licence and received a commercial construction permit at 1467 S. Holly St. in Denver. The liquor licence application was pending as of October 23, 2026, and the construction permit was recorded on November 5, 2026.

The records are the latest step in the redevelopment of the Virginia Village shopping center into The Village Park, a project that includes a 10,000-square-foot courtyard and new tenants. In March 2026, the Denver Post reported that Recess planned to open a second location in the development in fall 2026.

Why it matters

The permitting records show how a neighborhood shopping center redevelopment moves through Denver's licensing and construction approvals.

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Key Indicators

Official records at 1467 S. Holly St.

One liquor licence application and one construction permit.

$1M

Recess build-out cost

Estimated cost to build out the Recess space, as reported in March 2026.

10,000 sq ft

Courtyard size

The outdoor courtyard planned for The Village Park, as reported in March 2026.

$13M

Shopping center sale price

Price paid by the private partnership for the 5-acre strip mall in 2025.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Jason Romero

CEO of Recess Beer Garden

Leading the expansion to Virginia Village

Organizations Involved

Recess Beer Garden

Restaurant and bar

Expanding to a second location in Virginia Village

A LoHi beer garden known for its patio and smashburgers, planning a second location in Virginia Village.

The Village Park

Shopping center redevelopment

Under construction

A redevelopment of the Virginia Village shopping center into a neighborhood gathering place with a 10,000-square-foot courtyard.

City and County of Denver

Municipal government

Reviewing applications

The city agency that issues liquor licences and construction permits.

Timeline

2025 November 2026

4 events Latest: Yesterday

Tap a bar to jump to that date

November 2026
Commercial construction permit recorded
Latest Permitting

A commercial construction permit for alteration/tenant finish was recorded at 1467 S. Holly St.
Yesterday
October 2026
Liquor licence application pending
Licensing

A hotel and restaurant liquor licence application for Recess Village Park was listed as pending.
October 23rd, 2026
March 2026
Recess plans second location in Virginia Village
Announcement

The Denver Post reported that Recess Beer Garden planned to open a location in the redeveloped shopping center in fall 2026.
March 10th, 2026
2025
Shopping center sold to private partnership
Sale

A Denver-based private partnership acquired the Virginia Village Shopping Center for $13 million.
2025

Scenarios

Recess Village Park receives liquor licence by mid-2027

Likely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Denver Post reporting suggests the project is moving forward on schedule.

The city's Excise and Licenses department reviews the application, and if no protests are filed, grants the licence. Construction continues under the new permit, and the project remains on track for completion.

Liquor licence delayed past mid-2027

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: No public opposition has been reported, but the city review process can be lengthy.

A protest or additional city review delays the licence, pushing back the project's timeline. Construction may continue, but the business cannot serve alcohol until the licence is granted.

Historical Context

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

2020s

Oneida Park redevelopment (2020s)

The same ownership group behind The Village Park transformed a shopping center in Park Hill, adding a courtyard and bringing in an ice cream operator.

Then

Created a new neighborhood gathering place in Park Hill.

Now

Served as a model for the Virginia Village project.

Why this matters now

Shows the ownership group's approach to redevelopment and their experience with similar projects.

2015