Wash Park Social, a new Colorado grill from restaurateur Bart Hickey and local partners, is moving into the longtime Wash Park Grille space at 1096 S. Gaylord St. and is slated to open at the end of April. The fresh concept signals a big reset for the South Gaylord strip after the Grille’s recent flameout following legal and tax troubles.
What to expect inside
According to BusinessDen, the owners poured roughly $1 million to $1.5 million into an interior overhaul that swaps in more booths and installs a new horseshoe bar meant to greet guests the second they walk through the door. The menu is set to lean about 75% toward familiar, crowd-pleasing staples and 25% toward more adventurous plates such as grilled octopus, while the beverage lineup plans to spotlight local names like Rebel Bread and Laws Whiskey House. Two months after Social opens, the team says it will debut Provecho’s, a roughly 700-square-foot taco and margarita-focused spot in the adjoining storefront.
How the property changed hands
BusinessDen reported that Aaron Grant and Kris Johnson bought 1096 S. Gaylord St. for $6 million in October 2025, then tapped Hickey to run the new concepts. The property had been seized by the city for unpaid sales taxes in December 2024 and shut down for good in February 2025. Owner Jeff Estey told the outlet in March 2025, “I’m just done, I can’t do it anymore. I have to liquidate everything.”
About the team…