Denver, CO

Thai restaurant filling former Patxi’s space in Denver’s City Park West

Published

2 years ago

February 15, 2024

Thai restaurant filling former Patxi’s space in Denver’s City Park West

In 2022, Orrapan Botthaisong opened Edgewater’s La Mai Thai Kitchen, named after her mom.

That made choosing a moniker for the new restaurant she’s preparing to open in City Park West easy, Botthaisong joked her dad would be jealous if he didn’t get a restaurant named after him too.

“This is my dream to open for my mom and dad,” Botthaisong said. “They are both important in my life. Family is number one. That’s why I’m here, why I built my life here.”

Som Dee Thai Kitchen will join Olive & Finch on the ground floor of the Ascent Uptown apartment building at 1598 E. 17th Ave. The 3,500-square foot space was formerly home to Patxi’s Pizza, which closed in 2022.

Botthaisong said the restaurant will focus on authentic street food that you can’t find in the states, paired with cocktails like Thai tea with rum.

“I want to bring Thailand to Colorado,” Botthaisong said. “I want to show the real Thai food from where I grew up.”

Som Dee will be more upscale than Edgewater’s Lai Mai. She said it will focus on sit-down service rather than takeout, and be a classy spot to celebrate anniversaries or birthdays.

After moving from Thailand to Denver in 2010 to get her MBA, Botthaisong started LoHi’s Daughter Thai with Ounjit and Duane Hardacre. She left Daughter Thai a year ago to focus on her own concepts a year after opening in Edgewater. With a business background and a love of cooking, opening restaurants was always her dream.

“If the chef’s sick, I can jump in,” she said. “I know every position in my restaurant.”

Botthaisong said she’s been developing the idea for Som Dee for a while, but wanted to make sure Lai Mai was running smoothly and she found the perfect location.

After finding the City Park West space, she staked out the neighborhood, eating at the other restaurants and watching the street traffic before signing the lease in June.

Lai Mai did over $1 million in revenue last year, which Botthaisong said is funding the buildout of Som Dee. Because it used to be a pizza restaurant, she said the space needed a full buildout, including a brand new kitchen.

“I think Denver needs more restaurants, that’s why I keep opening and have confidence,” Botthaisong said. “I want authentic food here.”

This story was reported by our partner BusinessDen.

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Denver, CO

E-bike cyclist dies after crash in Denver’s Elyria Swansea neighborhood

Published

42 minutes ago

June 13, 2026

Press Room

E-bike cyclist dies after crash in Denver’s Elyria Swansea neighborhood

An e-bike cyclist died after a crash with a vehicle in the Elyria Swansea neighborhood, Denver police said.

The Denver Police Department reported the crash near Steele Street and Eastbound Interstate 70 at 7:24 p.m. Thursday and said one person was taken to the hospital.

The cyclist was pronounced dead at the hospital, agency officials said on social media Friday afternoon. The crash is still under investigation.

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Denver, CO

Broncos’ Jonathon Cooper arrested again on four charges, including harassment, violation of protection order

Published

11 hours ago

June 12, 2026

Press Room

Broncos’ Jonathon Cooper arrested again on four charges, including harassment, violation of protection order

Last weekend, Cooper posted a Bible verse about anger on his Instagram account and wrote, “I apologize to my family and my friends and my community. … And so many others.” He added, “I realize positing a bible (verse) after something very serious happens does not just mean everything is okay.”

In another post, Cooper wrote, “I apologize. This situation is not who I am.”

Cooper is scheduled to have a motions hearing in a Douglas County courtroom on July 6 with the potential for a jury trial on July 22, just before the Broncos report for training camp.

Cooper’s attorney, Harvey Steinberg, said Monday the defense doesn’t plan to file a motion to dismiss the charges and requested a trial date as soon as possible so that Cooper wouldn’t have to miss any training camp workouts.

Earlier Thursday afternoon, Broncos coach Sean Payton spoke on Cooper’s first arrest, telling reporters that he had not yet addressed the team on the matter.

“I think this: I think the league has done a good job of kind of coming in and really taking over that responsibility,” Payton said. “We had a long visit with Coop, and now the process plays out. The league obviously will be very much involved in that. We’ll stay abreast, but much like you all. I think that’s where it’s at. We just go from there.”

Cooper has been in attendance during Denver’s offseason program. He is subject to discipline under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

A seventh-round draft pick out of Ohio State in 2021, Cooper is entering his sixth season with the Broncos. He has started every game since 2023 and has 31.5 career sacks. He’s had at least eight sacks in each of the last three seasons, including a career-best 10.5 sacks in 2024 when he signed a four-year, $54 million contract extension.

The Broncos wrapped up voluntary organized team activities Thursday and will hold their mandatory minicamp on June 16-18.

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