Welcome to the Denver Gazette’s Metro Moves. You’ll get the latest metro Denver openings, closings, hiring and promotion news here. To submit your company’s news, drop an email to bernadette.berdychowski@denvergazette.com.

After Jim Sullivan’s death, development firm announces new leadership

Denver development firm The Sullivan Group is looking to new leadership after the death of its founder Jim Sullivan.

His business partner Travis Plakke takes over as project manager and principal broker, the company announced. The founder’s daughter Leigh Sullivan becomes the managing partner, leading business development and client relationships.

Jim was a key figure in Denver’s real estate community for more than 50 years. He died in January at the age of 74.

He founded the company in 2003 after selling his other commercial real estate firm SullivanHayes, which he founded with Jed Hayes in 1978. He also founded Club LA in Westminster, Jimmy’s Grill and The Sullivan Restaurant Group.

Jim worked on the food enterprise with his daughter Leigh bringing about popular local restaurants such as nine75, emogene, Ocean and Oscar’s Steakhouse.

The development firm has been working on a rebranding project with a new website before Jim died. It now includes a section on his legacy.

“Stepping into this role is a bittersweet moment for me; I am incredibly excited for the future of Sullivan Group and everything Travis and I will do from here on out will be geared towards making ourselves and my father proud,” Leigh said in a statement. “My father is someone whom I will always look up to and admire.”

Town Hall Collaborative getting bigger

Women-owned cocktail bar and lounge Town Hall Collaborative is expanding with three new concepts under its wing.

The Denver Art District establishment, 525 Santa Fe Drive, will add a coffee shop, a veggie hotdog operation and locally-owned retail shops selling home goods, art and more, Town Hall Collaborative announced.

The Queen City Collective Coffee opened Friday at the Town Collective in a 7,000-square-foot space after it closed its original location in the Baker neighborhood. It will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and offers free wi-fi.

“We’re excited for this partnership and Town Hall has such a collaborative mindset so we’re looking forward to partnering up on events and having a community space that we can fully activate,” said Scott Byington, co-owner of Queen City Collective Coffee, in a statement.

On Saturday, the venue opened the vegan hotdog restaurant “Other Dog” from Food Network-winning vegan brand The Easy Vegan.

When developing Other Dog, owners Taylor Herbert and Alexi Mandolini said they always thought of coming to Town Hall Collaborative.

The new foodie destination will be open on Thursdays to Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The last addition is scheduled to open April 13.

Mercantile at Town Hall will be a “mini marketplace” with items from nine small businesses run by women, BIPOC, trans, disabled or queer owners. It’ll have an assortment of items ranging from plants to art, books, candles, jewelry, cocktail mixes and zero-waste products.

The grand opening on Saturday will go from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. with music, drinks, food and giveaways. The businesses in the Mercantile are called New Moon Refillery, That Witch Apothecary, brx.wdrd, Hip Hope Hoorah, The Village Hous, Kara Kara Blooms, Rainbow Reva’s, Herbal Riot and Bone Black.

“It’s been an incredible journey since we opened our doors almost two years ago, and we’re thrilled to share these big announcements and partnerships that feel so in line with our mission and vision for Town Hall,” owner Denise Day said in a statement.

FirstBank’s leadership changes continue

Lakewood-based FirstBank has a new chief banking officer, the company announced Thursday.

The bank’s president of its Cherry Creek branch, Adam Sands, will take over the company’s banking division: from customer relations, loan and deposit production to FirstBank’s growth strategy.

Sands has been at FirstBank for more than 20 years running several markets. Cherry Creek is one of the best markets for the company with more than $1.2 billion in deposits and $1.4 billion in loans, according to the financial institution.

“Adam is well known for creating successful business alliances and being a strong collaborator throughout FirstBank and Colorado,” said FirstBank CEO Kevin Classen in a statement. “We’re confident he’ll continue to be an asset as CBO and help steer the bank in the right direction.”

The bank is restructuring its leadership after CEO Jim Reuter announced he would retire. Former president Classen took over the helm, who promoted Kelly Kaminskas to chief operating officer. 

“It’s an honor to be appointed and to help lead an organization that’s been a driving force within Colorado’s economy and business community,” Sands said in a statement.

Bernadette Berdychowski – The Denver Gazette