Per Colorado Springs planning docs, Cafe Rio plans to expand into the south Denver city in about 12 months. Development plans are now filed with the city to occupy the former Steak n’ Shake at 1560 Briargate Blvd.
“It’s kind of a natural move to the northern side of Colorado Springs,” Cafe Rio CEO Steve Vaughn said in a conversation with What Now Denver. “We’re really excited. Denver market is a vibrant market.”
This would mark the ninth Colorado location for the fast casual Mexican restaurant and the eighth along the I-25 corridor, reaching all the way up to Cafe Rio Longmont. First opened in Salt Lake City in 1997, founders Steve and Patricia Stanley were inspired to bring authentic eats and the “traditional cooking of Northern Mexico’s Rio Grande region, Southern Texas, and New Mexico” (per Cafe Rio). With fresh ingredients and made to order tacos, burritos, salads, enchiladas, and more, the store was an instant hit. Over two decades later, there are now over 150 Cafe Rio locations nationally with several more on the docket over the next 12 months.
Especially enticing at the restaurant is its sweet pork barbacoa — slow roasted, shredded meat with just a hint of sweet that adds complexity to its flavor. The store’s salsa add to this diversity, ranging from cilantro lime vinaigrette made from “hand-squeezed limes, fresh-cut cilantro, tomatillos and freshly sliced onions” to its award-winning, fiery red chile salsa. With homemade guacamole, never frozen fresh vegetables, and handmade tortillas, fresh made tortillas fired up on a hot comal (a flat sandstone griddle), patrons can always expect a leveled-up quick Mexican dining experience at the store.
Keep an eye out for the new Cafe Rio Colorado Springs coming this time next year.
