Daniel Landes, who founded the popular, 20-year-old vegan restaurant Watercourse Foods before selling it to the mother-and-daughter team of Jennifer Byers and Lauren Roberts, is also selling City O’ City, his last remaining Denver restaurant, to the pair.
“We are honored to be given the opportunity to build on the history and tradition that Dan Landes began two decades ago,” said Roberts, now the vice president of Watercourse, City O’ City and the latter’s bakery, Make Believe, via email Wednesday.
“We believe there is so much more to these businesses beyond excellent food and authentic service,” she said. “When we think of our establishments we see community and culture. These are aspects we value most in Denver, and the ones we represent in Watercourse, City, O’ City, and Make Believe Bakery.”
Roberts formerly worked as general manager at City O’ City, a hip vegan restaurant and bar on Capitol Hill, before taking over Watercourse from Landes in 2015. Watercourse, now in the Uptown neighborhood, also began at the same spot as City O’ City.
Landes declined to comment on the sale, citing a negative review of his Campus Lounge restaurant published in The Denver Post in December.
The Campus Lounge closed in March after five months in business, following a pricey reboot that failed to connect with customers. At the time, Landes admitted “failure” with the concept, but denied he was experiencing financial troubles.
The only reason he commented on the Campus Lounge, Landes said Wednesday via text message, was because he needed to address a “BS” tip that The Post had received.
“There is no drama here,” he wrote. “I don’t care what people think.”
The Deer Pile art space, a DIY performance venue above City O’ City that Landes also owned, will hold a fundraiser and variety show on April 27 to transition over to becoming a for-profit enterprise.
“We need a projector, new lights and are looking at switching up the paint job so we can go in a new direction,” venue manager Johnny Morehouse said, adding that the Deer Pile transition “has very little to do with the sale and transition of (City O’ City). … We’re looking to open up the running of the Deer Pile to a few more people, kind of in the co-op sense.”
Patrons of City O’ City may not notice the change, however, since new co-owner Roberts formerly managed it and seems intent on not making any major changes immediately.
“The leadership team and staff at all locations are all very dedicated and enthusiastic about the restaurants,” Roberts said. “We are looking forward to the years to come — to uplifting voices in the community, supporting the arts, and above all else serving Denver in the way we know best, one meal at a time.”
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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