New brewery and entertainment venue prepares for take off at the former Stapleton airport control tower
Fasten your seatbelts and make sure your flight trays are in an upright position because a new brewery is preparing to take off at the former Stapleton International Airport control tower.
FlyteCo Tower, at 3120 Uinta St, Denver is the second outpost of Denver-based FlyteCo Brewing, which in December announced it was moving into a building at the base of the tower thanks to a series of events that co-owner Morgan O’Sullivan could only describe as serendipitous. It’s expected to open in mid-August.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
FlyteCo Tower, the second outpost of Denver’s FlyteCo Brewing, is preparing to take off at the former Stapleton International Airport. Attractions include bowling, mini golf, an arcade and, of course, plenty of beer.
O’Sullivan said FlyteCo had been looking to expand thanks to success at its original location in the Berkeley neighborhood and the company’s ability to pivot during the pandemic. When indoor dining was shut down due to COVID-19, FlyteCo quickly shifted to to-go beer and added a coffee and bagel shop to satisfy consumer demand for grab-and-go options.
FlyteCo was eyeing a space in Green Valley Ranch, but the deal fell through. Less than a week later, O’Sullivan said he and partners Eric Serani and Jason Slingsby were invited to check out the control tower building, now part of the Central Park neighborhood.
“I had to pinch myself because as an aviation-themed brewery, of course we’re going to say ‘Yes, that’s exactly where we want to go,’ ” O’Sullivan said. “So we went and toured the spot. It’s absolutely enormous but such an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take over a space that couldn’t be better suited to our brand.”
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FlyteCo Tower is replacing Punch Bowl Social, which inhabited the 20,000-square-foot space until its closure in 2020. That’s why visitors will find an 18-hole mini golf course, an arcade and six bowling lanes, plus multiple bars, patios and dining areas spread over two floors of the venue. One patio on the second story overlooks Central Park.
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The concept is massive. O’Sullivan said the occupancy is around 1,500 patrons. (The company is looking to hire about 140 people for a variety of positions.)
As for the building’s signature 164-foot air traffic control tower, it’s not open as part of the entertainment venue — at least not yet.
“We are working with the landlord, the property owner at trying to get that tower back into usable condition,” O’Sullivan said.
Beyond the location, the aviation theme will be impossible to miss. Murals of airplanes and travel signage adorn the walls and booths. Additionally, FlyteCo has a partnership with the nearby Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, which will loan a rotating collection of artifacts to be featured in the brewery.
FlyteCo’s primary brewing facility will remain in Berkeley. However, the tower will have a small, 2.5-barrel pilot brewing system for specialty recipes and other creative projects. For example, O’Sullivan wants to collaborate with folks looking to host a private event and brew something specifically to their taste.
Most of the taps here will be dedicated to FlyteCo beers, such as Oh My Guava pale ale and Late A-RYE-VAL rye IPA . It will also serve other locally made craft beers, wine and cocktails to pair with “traditional pub Americana” fare, O’Sullivan said. Think pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, salads and other vegetarian-friendly dishes.
Starting at 7 a.m. each day, early risers can snag some quick-serve coffee and breakfast burritos, similar to the Tennyson location. The bars are expected to remain open until 10 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends.
Want to be among the first to check it out? Sign up for FlyteCo Tower’s newsletter to be invited to soft opening events and hear about grand opening plans.
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