On heels of opening in Ballpark, restaurateur eyes Rino

Francois Safieddine’s plans for a Rino property he purchased last year have come into focus.

The man behind Viewhouse and Wonderyard Garden + Table — which opened last week near Coors Field — wants to open a new restaurant at 3458 Walnut St. in Rino, according to plans submitted to the city last week.

The plans call for the renovation of the existing 5,800-squarefoot building and indicate the adjacent undeveloped lot would be used as an outdoor dining area.

A rendering included in the plans shows two hand sculptures forming an entryway to the outdoor area and the word “Tulum,” although it’s unclear whether that would be the name of the establishment. Tulum is a resort town in Mexico.

The plans drawn up by Boss Architecture bear the name of Lotus Concepts, the parent company of Safieddine’s restaurant brands, which also include My Neighbor Felix.

Safieddine bought the building and adjacent lot in Rino, where he does not currently have any restaurants, in May 2023 for $3 million.

While it might seem obvious that he would want to open a restaurant there, Safieddine sometimes buys real estate without doing so. He paid $14 million in 2022 for a Cherry Creek property but has not brought a Lotus concept to the site.

Safieddine did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. In an emailed statement, a company spokeswoman would only say that Lotus “hopes to bring new energy to the area with their future concepts.”

Safieddine’s Wonderyard, which opened Friday at 2200 Larimer St., features a whimsical design, with oversized birdcages and giant pink teacups serving as seating for guests. The building was boarded up when Safieddine bought it for $8 million in 2018.

Safieddine also recently bought a vacant restaurant building in Lodo. And according to Lotus’ website, he’s planning a restaurant called Noble in the former Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant at 1525 Blake St., which he bought in 2022 for $6.3 million.