Punch Bowl Social Opens in Historic Stapleton Airport Tower Building
Long-abandoned air traffic control building re-imagined as award-winning "eat-ertainment" concept with design reflecting the golden age of flight
DENVER, Nov. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, November 18, Denver-based Punch Bowl Social, the leader in the "eat-ertainment" movement, will open its 10th location in the iconic Stapleton air traffic control tower building, former home of the Stapleton International Airport that closed its doors in 1995. While the rest of the airport structures have long been demolished, the air traffic control tower has stood vacant for over 20 years as a thriving planned community developed around the iconic municipal site.
Punch Bowl Social's historic preservation and adaptive re-use project has been a significant, multi-year undertaking. The building was structurally sound but the interior had degraded substantially over the past two decades, requiring comprehensive infrastructure improvements. The design of the 32,000-square-foot project honors the legacy of the airport and preserves many elements of the historic tower, including the precast panels that originally adorned the exterior of the building. The intensive effort required removing and preserving the panels to accommodate the new design and then setting them back on the building. The project also incorporates a "golden age of flight" aesthetic within the interior design.
Dozens of ideas for re-use of the tower were presented over the years, including demolition. Finally, Denver City Councilman Chris Herndon, who represents the Stapleton neighborhood, approached Robert Thompson, founder and chief executive officer of Punch Bowl Social, about redeveloping the historic tower.
"It has been an incredible effort, and more importantly an honor, to preserve the former control tower," Thompson said. "We are intentional about seeking locations that have historic roots but need a new purpose. We've done it at our original location on Broadway in Denver and have projects in San Diego and Brooklyn that will also adapt historic properties for re-use as Punch Bowl Socials."
Punch Bowl Social is an admired, award-winning eat-ertainment business that combines social gaming with a primary focus on culinary and craft beverage operations. Punch Bowl Social Stapleton will bring a thoughtfully curated menu created by the company's culinary partner, James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur, author and "Top Chef" judge, Hugh Acheson. Acheson leads the ongoing culinary direction of the growing restaurant concept, further strengthening Punch Bowl Social's commitment to a diner-inspired scratch kitchen.
Punch Bowl Social Stapleton will feature six bowling lanes, bonzini, darts, two private karaoke rooms, a photo booth, shuffle board, giant Scrabble, a custom-built 360-degree bar, and a wide variety of indoor and outdoor lounging and gathering spots. The location will also be home to the company's first expansive outdoor space with two regulation-size bocce courts, ping-pong, corn hole, giant Jenga, an AstroTurf-lined "pool," stadium seating, gazebo, and beer garden.
Punch Bowl Social worked with Denver-based OZ Architecture on the architecture and design of the airport tower.
PUNCH BOWL SOCIAL
Punch Bowl Social brings classic entertainment and real culinary chops together under the same roof, in an environment that is playful and surprisingly intimate. Punch Bowl Social's scratch kitchen serves weekend brunch, lunch, dinner and late-night snacks while the in-house mixologists focus on serving up craft beverages. For more information, visit www.punchbowlsocial.com.
SOURCE Punch Bowl Social
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