Concept promising “bougie ratchet energy” leases ex-Tom’s Diner

The one-time Tom’s Diner building is taking a new form once again.

Champagne Tiger, a soon-to-be French-American diner, has leased the building at 601 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver that was home for two decades to Tom’s Diner and then, briefly, Tom’s Starlight.

Owner Chris Donato said he’s targeting a September opening for his restaurant that will feature specialty pasta and piano nights, as well as drag brunches on Sundays

“I’ve always been looking for a diner space. I wanted to create a French-American diner,” Donato said. “And what that means to me is that you’re sampling some of the classics from the land of the French brasserie, but you’re pairing it with American diner classics. And to make it better, having this high energy or, what we like to call, bougie ratchet energy that we really bring to the restaurants.”

The menu, he said, will range from burgers and omelets to caviar and oysters. He plans to be open five days a week for dinner and serve brunch on the weekend.

Champagne Tiger has operated for about three years as a pop-up event company, hosting things such as drag brunches, and bottomless champagne and French fry nights at social clubs and restaurants in Denver.

Now, Donato is transitioning all that to the East Colfax diner.

“We want to create a scene focused on food and quality that’s excellent because it is presented in a really joyous celebratory atmosphere,” he said. “What we’re doing now is taking the energy of that pop-up series and presenting it as a full brick-and-mortar restaurant.”

Tom’s Diner closed in 2020. Owner Tom Messina had planned to sell the property to a developer, who would have demolished the structure. But when neighbors stepped up to try and save the structure, Messina struck an alternate deal, bringing on Cleveland-based GBX Group as a part-owner of the real estate.

In fall 2022, after the property was renovated, Messina opened Tom’s Starlight, a pricier and less-demanding bar and lounge. But he closed it last fall after a year.

Donato, who lives two blocks from the building, said he expressed interest in it before the end of last year. He’s making few changes to the property because it was renovated so recently.

The building is about 3,684 square feet, with a bar and outdoor patio. Donato said he hopes to have a sizable private event business. The back patio, he said, can hold about 240 people.

Donato previously worked for Frasca Hospitality Group, serving as head of operations and later brand manager for the Boulder-based chain Pizzeria Locale. The restaurant expanded with backing from Chipotle, only to see its five Denver locations shuttered last year.

Donato said much of his background has focused on high-end or fine dining, but he wants Champagne Tiger to be accessible and a neighborhood diner where everyone is welcome.