After a patient wait, Colorado Springs is set to welcome a beloved Denver-area eatery. Illegal Pete’s, renowned for its vibrant Mission-style burritos, tacos, and other Mexican-inspired dishes, is officially opening its doors on April 11. The highly anticipated restaurant is located at 32 S. Tejon St., right across from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee headquarters in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs. Pete Turner, the founder of the fast-casual chain who first launched Illegal Pete’s in Boulder back in 1995, confirmed the opening.
The journey to Colorado Springs wasn’t a quick one. Turner initially announced the expansion back in January 2022, with plans to open in the summer of that year. However, various factors contributed to a significant delay, pushing the opening back nearly two years.
Navigating Setbacks and Focusing on Expansion for Illegal Pete’s in Colorado Springs
According to Turner, personnel changes within the company played a role in the delays experienced in bringing Illegal Pete’s to Colorado Springs. Simultaneously, the restaurant group was actively engaged in developing and remodeling other locations. The combined demands of planning, architectural design, and navigating regulatory approvals for these various projects collectively shifted the timeline for the Colorado Springs location.
“These other new restaurants all stacked up,” Turner explained. “It just took a lot of resources and planning. Which is all a good thing.” Despite the delays, Turner emphasizes the positive aspects of managing growth and ensuring each new Illegal Pete’s location meets the brand’s standards.
Illegal Pete’s Colorado Springs Part of Aggressive 2024 Expansion
Now, Illegal Pete’s is geared up for a significant expansion phase in early 2024. The Colorado Springs location is part of this ambitious growth, joining a family of over a dozen Illegal Pete’s restaurants already operating in Denver, Boulder, Greenwood Village, Fort Collins, and across state lines in Tempe and Tucson, Arizona.
Before the Colorado Springs opening, Illegal Pete’s will launch a new restaurant in Wheat Ridge at Gold’s Marketplace in February, and another in Boulder’s Table Mesa shopping center in March. Following the Colorado Springs debut in April, May will see the reopening of the University of Denver location after recent remodeling work.
Turner highlighted the appealing growth of Colorado Springs, particularly the surge in downtown apartment developments in recent years, as a key factor in choosing the Tejon Street location. The increasing residential population in the area made downtown Colorado Springs an attractive spot for Illegal Pete’s expansion.
Joining a Thriving Downtown Colorado Springs Restaurant Scene
Illegal Pete’s will be in good company in downtown Colorado Springs, becoming part of a growing list of Denver-area restaurants and entertainment venues expanding into the city center. Popular spots like Atomic Cowboy, Fat Sully’s Pizza, White Pie Pizzeria, Denver Biscuit Co., Dos Santos Tacos, and Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar have already established a presence, contributing to a vibrant and diverse dining landscape.
Turner recognizes the appeal of Colorado Springs as a business destination. “Colorado Springs … is one of the hottest markets in the country, if not the (hottest),” he stated, emphasizing the city’s reputation as a thriving and growing urban center. The influx of residents moving downtown further strengthens the market for restaurants like Illegal Pete’s.
Unique Features of the Illegal Pete’s Colorado Springs Location
The Illegal Pete’s space at 32 S. Tejon, encompassing approximately 6,000 square feet, is currently undergoing remodeling to reflect the brand’s signature style. Plans include a patio area for outdoor dining and an indoor stage to host live music performances, adding to the restaurant’s energetic atmosphere.
Derek Cohn of The Baldwin Cohn Group, the building’s owner, initiated contact with Turner about bringing Illegal Pete’s to Colorado Springs after being impressed by the restaurant in Denver in 2018. Initially, Cohn proposed the building at 112-114 N. Tejon, but the timing was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Innovative Design Enhances Dining and Entertainment Experience
Turner was ultimately drawn to the 32 S. Tejon building, situated at the corner of Tejon and Colorado Avenue. A distinctive feature of the building is its upgraded gas-strut windows, which open outward at a 90-degree angle, resembling a car hatchback. These unique windows encircle the building on both the Tejon and Colorado sides.
When open, these windows will seamlessly connect the patio and indoor dining areas, allowing both patrons inside and passersby to enjoy the live music. Cohn envisions the open windows creating an inviting ambiance, “It really will allow that music to drift outside and allow people to enjoy it, even if they’re just walking by,” he said. “But if somebody wants to sit on the patio and enjoy Illegal Pete’s, they can also enjoy the music.”
Cohn and Baldwin are still marketing the basement space of the building, suggesting possibilities like a speakeasy or other unique tenant concepts, further adding to the building’s potential as a downtown destination. Colorado Springs residents can soon experience the Illegal Pete’s flavor and atmosphere that Denver has long enjoyed.
