Edgewater Business Spotlight: New Edgewater Inn Owners

New Edgewater Inn owners, Niya (front middle in the hat) and Grant (back in the purple) with their team (photo from Edgewater Inn Facebook page).

One of Edgewater’s oldest businesses, Edgewater Inn, has changed owners, so we thought we would share an interview with one of the new owners, Niya Gingerich. Niya and her husband Grant owned Local 46 just east of Edgewater at 46th and Tennyson in Denver. As we’ve talked with them over the last few months, we think they are great examples of living out our tagline of listening to the past and looking to the future.

How did you get started in the restaurant industry?

My Grandma Sylvia owned a bar and my mom worked in the restaurant business for decades so it runs deep! My first job was at Heinies Market in Wheat Ridge the summer after 5th grade and by 8th grade I was working as a host at a corporate restaurant. I had a stint as a barista in Old Town Arvada and then worked for a few years at Table Mountain Inn in Golden. I learned a lot there, became a server, worked the catering department for big events and the hotel side. I appreciated the systems of a bigger corporate organization, but knew it wasn’t the perfect fit. I went on to work 5 years at Mead St. Station, became a bartender and floor manager and eventually was GM by age 23! The original owners were ready to retire and I almost bought the restaurant. It is a long story, but it fell through and I took a minute to reevaluate my career. I was dating Grant at the time (now my husband) who owns el Camino Community Tavern. The landlords of the Music Bar space called Grant and asked if we had an interest in opening a concept. Grant had been acquiring commercial and residential properties in the neighborhood and was never interested in leasing but the space had so much potential. Tennyson was at an exciting point and we had big dreams for the biergarten. We had an amazing 10 years over there and I am really proud of what we created. It was painful to have to walk away from that creation.

What drew you to purchase Edgewater Inn?

Edgewater Inn was our go-to spot in high school, we would always get to-go pizzas (“extra juicy”) and bring them around the corner to the little park so we could have beers with it! I hadn’t been in years and found myself at the bar in August, a couple months before our looming closure date at Local 46. Haley DiPietro was bartending and we started bonding over industry stuff and I told her about Local, she whispered across the bar “you should buy this place!” The rest is history. We had looked at so many places, but the old historic piece is really our vibe. I knew right away it would be a great fit!

What do you love about the Edgewater area?

I love the small town charm! Tennyson has lost much of that charm and feels so good to be back in it. I have loved working with the City of Edgewater so far, such a breath of fresh air from Denver! They actually work with you and have made me feel like they want our small business to thrive!

How do you hope to honor the history of Edgewater Inn and look to the future of the space?

There is such an incredible history from the founder Ben and then Carolyn who has been running the show since the late 80s. She has stories of changing Haley’s diapers on the prep tables (don’t judge!).  So Haley really grew up there, much like our daughter Harlow is growing up in the business. We love hearing all the stories from their regulars. We are keeping the name, the “Howdy Paisano” theme and building on the famous Schooners!

What can customers expect as Edgewater Inn reopens in January?

Great pizzas, salads, cocktails, wine and beer with warm, friendly service and the familiar, cozy dining room. The back bar will get a pool table and high tops replace the booths. Expanded hours too, get pizza late!

Joel Newton

Joel has been a resident of Edgewater, Colorado with his family since 2012. He is the Executive Director of local education nonprofit Edgewater Collective and Editor of the Edgewater Echo.