Alex Seidel is beginning to really feel the burden of his 36-year profession within the kitchen. Simply prior to now 5, he’s had surgical procedures on his ft and again because of “lengthy hours and standing,” he stated.
And for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic, he’s been “working towards simplifying my life.” In 2021, he offered Fruition Farms and Creamery in Larkspur, the place he produced artisan cheese and sourced meat and produce from for his eating places, Fruition and Mercantile Eating & Provision.
This week, Seidel took one other step: He offered a majority stake in Mercantile to formidable Denver-based hotelier and restaurant operator Sage Hospitality, which runs Denver Union Station, the place Mercantile is positioned, together with many different well-known Denver properties.
He’s the second main restaurateur to step away from considered one of Denver’s legacy kitchens in latest weeks. Crafted Ideas founders Jen Jasinski and Beth Gruitch introduced in early August that they have been leaving Ultreia and Bistro Vendome and shutting up store at Stoic & Real; Ultreia and Stoic & Real are additionally positioned in Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St.
“I wish to spend extra time with my household earlier than my youngsters are out of the home,” Seidel stated. “My son was born two months earlier than I opened Fruition, and now they’re each in highschool, that are a number of the most early life, so I wish to commit extra time to the essential issues.”
Seidel opened Mercantile in 2014, following the success of his first restaurant, Fruition. 4 years later, he received the James Beard Basis Award for Greatest Chef of America’s Southwest and earned a reputation for himself nationally for his deal with farm-to-table cooking. In 2023, Mercantile earned a spot on the inaugural Colorado Michelin Information’s record of really helpful eating places.
However Seidel has been dealing with the executive elements of operating his personal restaurant group for 18 years and determined he wished to deliver on an organization like Sage — headed up by CEO Walter Isenberg — which may deal with the strain of those duties at a excessive stage.
“We spoke about alternatives to develop the model in different cities and inns,” Seidel stated. “There’s an enormous potential for the way forward for Mercantile, however I don’t wish to do it alone in that capability.”
Seidel now has 35 p.c possession in Mercantile, whereas Sage owns 65 p.c and can function the restaurant on a day-to-day foundation. Sage doesn’t personal Mercantile’s just lately opened Denver Worldwide Airport location, nonetheless, “The airport supplied a possibility to feed the world, and Sage is creating a possibility for the model to develop and get in entrance of extra folks,” Seidel stated.
However Seidel has no plans to promote Fruition, though he does hope to cross it on to govt chef Jarred Russell sooner or later sooner or later.
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