The building at 300 Santa Fe Drive was home to Mile High Vienna Stand until December. (Google Maps)
Pizza is the new hot dog in Baker.
The building at 300 Santa Fe Drive, formerly home to Mile High Vienna Stand, sold this week for $1.33 million, according to public records.
The roughly 2,000-square-foot building sold to an entity managed by Walter’s303 Pizzeria & Publik House owner Michael Kienast. Kienast did not respond to requests for comment.
Mike Lindemann, owner of CM Commercial Partners, represented Kienast in the deal and said the space will be another Walter’s303 Pizzeria. Kienast opened the first Walter’s303 in Uptown nearly 15 years ago. It now has four locations, in Littleton, Colorado Springs and Lowry — and one planned in Mexico.
A pizza from Walter’s303. (Courtesy Walter’s303)
Unlike its other locations, the Baker spot will focus on to-go orders, rather than dine-in business. Lindemann said Kienast was interested in the space because of the opportunity to buy the building instead of leasing it, as well as the location.
“I was here in ‘05 and this seems very similar to what was happening in the Highlands 20 years ago,” Lindemann said. “You’re buying for the neighborhood.”
The space needs some construction before it can reopen, but Lindemann said Walter’s303 has already started working with an architect.
“Converting it from a sausage restaurant to a pizza restaurant will take a little bit of an overhaul,” he said. “We’re very confident, very bullish. We’re all geeked up about getting this thing going.”
The building has been empty since Mile High Vienna Stand closed in December following the death of owner Sonny Jarock. According to the restaurant’s website, Jarock started it in 2008 to bring a taste of Chicago to Denver. In 2012, the hot dog joint moved to 300 Santa Fe Drive, and five years later Jarock bought the property for $600,000, property records show.
Henry Group Real Estate broker Patrick Henry, who represented the sellers, said the property was initially under contract last October, but that deal fell through and Jarock passed shortly after.
“It’s a bittersweet deal,” Henry said. “I’m sure Sonny would’ve been happy with the outcome.”
Sonny’s wife, Dawn Jarock, bid farewell to the hot dog stand in a Facebook post on Wednesday and recalled many family memories made there over the years.
“So many memories, and so much lost,” Dawn wrote in the post. “While I’m sure it was the best place to grab a Chicago dog, Windy City sub or Italian beef for a lot of you, it was that and so much more to our family. He put so much passion and work into making a place so special for all of you; a taste of our hometown. I can still picture him standing proudly at the register with his paper hat on with a smile on his face and heart on his sleeve.”
The building at 300 Santa Fe Drive was home to Mile High Vienna Stand until December. (Google Maps)
Pizza is the new hot dog in Baker.
The building at 300 Santa Fe Drive, formerly home to Mile High Vienna Stand, sold this week for $1.33 million, according to public records.
The roughly 2,000-square-foot building sold to an entity managed by Walter’s303 Pizzeria & Publik House owner Michael Kienast. Kienast did not respond to requests for comment.
Mike Lindemann, owner of CM Commercial Partners, represented Kienast in the deal and said the space will be another Walter’s303 Pizzeria. Kienast opened the first Walter’s303 in Uptown nearly 15 years ago. It now has four locations, in Littleton, Colorado Springs and Lowry — and one planned in Mexico.
A pizza from Walter’s303. (Courtesy Walter’s303)
Unlike its other locations, the Baker spot will focus on to-go orders, rather than dine-in business. Lindemann said Kienast was interested in the space because of the opportunity to buy the building instead of leasing it, as well as the location.
“I was here in ‘05 and this seems very similar to what was happening in the Highlands 20 years ago,” Lindemann said. “You’re buying for the neighborhood.”
The space needs some construction before it can reopen, but Lindemann said Walter’s303 has already started working with an architect.
“Converting it from a sausage restaurant to a pizza restaurant will take a little bit of an overhaul,” he said. “We’re very confident, very bullish. We’re all geeked up about getting this thing going.”
The building has been empty since Mile High Vienna Stand closed in December following the death of owner Sonny Jarock. According to the restaurant’s website, Jarock started it in 2008 to bring a taste of Chicago to Denver. In 2012, the hot dog joint moved to 300 Santa Fe Drive, and five years later Jarock bought the property for $600,000, property records show.
Henry Group Real Estate broker Patrick Henry, who represented the sellers, said the property was initially under contract last October, but that deal fell through and Jarock passed shortly after.
“It’s a bittersweet deal,” Henry said. “I’m sure Sonny would’ve been happy with the outcome.”
Sonny’s wife, Dawn Jarock, bid farewell to the hot dog stand in a Facebook post on Wednesday and recalled many family memories made there over the years.
“So many memories, and so much lost,” Dawn wrote in the post. “While I’m sure it was the best place to grab a Chicago dog, Windy City sub or Italian beef for a lot of you, it was that and so much more to our family. He put so much passion and work into making a place so special for all of you; a taste of our hometown. I can still picture him standing proudly at the register with his paper hat on with a smile on his face and heart on his sleeve.”
