Southmoor Park won't see the Tony's Meats & Market once destined for the neighborhood.
"Tony's is out," Daniel Rosacci, owner of the local grocery and butcher chain, told Denverite.
Tony's was supposed to headline a food hall under construction in an old Safeway building at 4950 E. Hampden Ave., but Rosacci said he could not reach a lease agreement with the new landlord.
The vacant Safeway building has sat in limbo since former owner Gary Dragul was charged with 14 counts of securities fraud for allegedly stealing millions from investors through his company, GDA Real Estate Services. A bankruptcy attorney was overseeing the property. But it was sold, according to property records.
"I sunk a lot of money into that project ... spent all the money that I was supposed to get reimbursed for according to the terms of our contract," Rosacci said.
He is not actively seeking a new spot, the businessman said. Tony's operates two other stores in the metro area, and once operated a market in the building that now houses the Broadway Market.
"I'm really disappointed that Tony's is not going in, but after talking with the owner, I'm confident he is going to still move forward with the market concept," said City Councilwoman Kendra Black.
Black, whose district encompasses the area, said an Applejack Wine & Spirits will take over part of the Safeway space. Denverite called the company but could not confirm. The property's real estate broker had not returned calls to Denverite at publishing time.
