Local Love: Union Station Revitalization
Denver’s Infamous Union Station recently went under the knife to get a little facelift. The iconic downtown station just went through a series of renovations to revitalize and give a new life to a Denver mainstay, just in time for its 10 year previous renovation anniversary. In July 2014, Union Station reopened after a $54 million renovation that included the opening of The Crawford Hotel. Wrapping up it’s renovations the weekend of July 12th, the long awaited project was unveiled, giving us a glimpse into a new and improved Union Station and Crawford Hotel. It all commenced with a gala, live music, and more to celebrate one of the cities most notable landmarks.
Renovations at Union Station | Photo by Denverite
The landmark continued to stay open during the renovation, with some businesses temporarily closed on a rotating basis. The changes included a new lobby for the Crawford Hotel featuring live music and cocktails, updated furnishings and lighting in the hotel's 112 rooms, revamped retail spaces in the Great Hall, a renovated Cooper Lounge, and more. Once it was reopened, it was back to business as usual. Travelers with suitcases settled into the station's custom modernist booths, enjoying coffee with friends and family. Workers set up their laptops on the ledges with charging outlets. It’s as if nothing had changed at all, only now those who pass through get to enjoy the beautiful changes and upgrades.
Newly Renovated Union Station | Photo by Denverite
One thing that did not change for the revamp were all the amazing food and beverage offerings. Union Station is home to plenty of delicious restaurants, with one of my personal favorites being Stoic and Genuine. From the award-winning culinary duo Jennifer Jasinski and Beth Gruitch, they offer a modern seafood experience that fuses classic dishes with innovative twists. This seafood restaurant and oyster bar is a must visit if you’re checking out the renovations. Of course, if creatures from the sea aren’t your thing, any number of their highly acclaimed restaurants and bars will be sure to please anyone. We can’t wait to visit it when we check out the new and improved Union Station on our next trip to Denver.
Oysters & Cocktails at Stoic and Genuine | Photo by stoicandgenuine