May 16, 2025

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Simply The Best Food

An additional Denver cafe favorite increasing to Colorado Springs | Business

Mici Handcrafted Italian, a 17-calendar year-outdated quickly-relaxed chain, will join the ranks of Denver eating places that have expanded to Colorado Springs in current yrs when it opens a location on the city’s northeast aspect.

Founded by siblings Jeff, Kim and Michael Miceli, Mici will consider more than a previous Smashburger area northeast of Powers Boulevard and North Carefree Circle, in the northern portion of the sprawling Initially & Principal City Heart.

Mici is focusing on a late February opening for what will be its sixth spot the chain has two Denver eating places and places in Lafayette, Highlands Ranch and Parker. An initial place in downtown Denver closed in September due to the fact of a organization downturn that Mici attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The chain, which was released in 2004, specializes in relatives recipes for its pizza, pasta and other Italian dishes, while it also seeks to produce a relatives-welcoming environment for shoppers and workforce, mentioned CEO Elliot Schiffer, who’s also a enterprise husband or wife with the Micelis.


Denver pizzeria increasing to Colorado Springs with substantial outdoor dining place

Mici has eyed an enlargement to Colorado Springs for several many years, Schiffer explained.

Buddies who very own profitable dining places in the Springs have spoken of its development and opportunity, he explained. Mici’s professional broker — who’s worked with In-N-Out Burger to detect internet sites in Colorado for the freshly arrived California chain, which include two in the Springs — also touted the city’s strengths, he reported.

“We just know from his expertise that the Springs is a thriving marketplace,” Schiffer said. “Large loved ones density in Colorado Springs, which for us is extremely significant. Our core purchaser tends to be a younger family members. And so we have had our eye on the marketplace for the very last five yrs or so.”


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With places to eat in Highlands Ranch and Parker on the south aspect of the Denver metro spot, an enlargement farther south to Colorado Springs also appeared like a organic match, he said.

The previous Smashburger northeast of Powers and North Carefree also appealed to Mici, Schiffer claimed. Powers, the north-south highway that operates the size of the metropolis, is a single of the Springs’ best retail corridors First & Key and other procuring centers alongside Powers are dwelling to hundreds of eating places, huge-box suppliers, groceries and enjoyment venues.

Stetson Hills, Springs Ranch and other neighborhoods, meanwhile, have taken shape more than the very last 30 yrs together Powers and boast hundreds of rooftops.

“What we know is that the Powers corridor is the … historically busiest retail corridor of Colorado Springs,” Schiffer stated. “We felt, particularly with the density of households that are both equally on the east and west sides of that corridor, which is what we were genuinely interested in, supplying a support to people households.”

Mici expects to incorporate a next spot on the city’s north side later on this yr, concerning the Briargate and Northgate areas, Schiffer claimed. In all, Mici is searching to have 5 Springs dining places more than the future few years and is checking out supplemental web sites.

The Powers and North Carefree cafe will have 46 seats in its indoor dining place and will supply pickup, delivery and catering providers. 

Opening a restaurant throughout the pandemic continues to be a challenge, but Schiffer claimed a new on the net purchasing process put in ahead of the pandemic took hold, along with cellular phone technique updates, have assisted Mici much more efficiently manage orders for pickup and supply.


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Pickup orders that experienced been 40% of Mici’s profits prior to the pandemic approximately doubled soon after indoor dining was temporarily closed, Schiffer mentioned.

Mici workers — not third-party services — will provide food stuff in a continue to-to-be determined place anticipated to protect 45,000 households. The restaurant aims for a 30-moment delivery time right after orders are put.

Holding shipping and delivery in-house is a vital to retaining consumer support supply personnel are skilled to have an understanding of the restaurant’s menu and to deal with problems if they occur, Schiffer explained.

“If you order from a third occasion and the supply driver gets to your house, and there is an item missing, that’s an challenge,” he claimed. “If you purchase from Mici, you can just inform your shipping driver, ‘hey, you can find an product lacking.’ The supply driver will go back again to the cafe and seize the item and occur back. 

“For us, regularity of support is really critical.”

Mici will hire 25 to 30 entire- and component-time workers when the cafe opens. Standard supervisor Sarah Brodhead, who’s labored for the chain for 8 decades, grew up in Colorado Springs and now will get a prospect to shift back residence, Schiffer stated.

Mici is a single of a number of Denver-spot dining establishments, bars and entertainment concepts that have been captivated by the Springs’ development and expanded to the city or are preparing to open. Other folks involve White Pie Pizzeria, Jax Fish Dwelling & Oyster Bar, ViewHouse, Anthony’s Pizza, Parry’s Pizzeria, Atomic Cowboy, Excess fat Sully’s Pizza, Denver Biscuit Co. and Oskar Blues Grill & Brew.