FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2026
Shaundy Africano, co-owner, shaundy@thewarehouserestaurant.com, (719) 475-8882
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Downtown Colorado Springs is taking another step toward becoming a complete urban neighborhood with the opening of Urban Grocer, a chef-owned market that expands access to fresh food and everyday grocery essentials for residents, employees, and visitors. Created by Chef James and Shaundy Africano, owners of The Warehouse Restaurant, the market is located at 29 W. Cimarron St. and reflects Downtown’s continued evolution into a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood.
Media and the public are invited to celebrate the grand opening on Saturday, July 18. The market opens at 8 a.m., with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon.
Urban Grocer expands Downtown’s grocery options with a concept that combines restaurant-quality food with the convenience of a neighborhood market. The market features fresh produce, a full-service deli, butcher, and seafood counters, chef-prepared meals, artisan cheeses, house-made pasta and sauces, baked goods, pantry staples, and Colorado-made products providing residents, employees, and visitors with a convenient destination for high-quality food and everyday essentials.
The concept traces its roots to the COVID-19 pandemic, when Chef James began packaging grocery staples into family-sized portions to help neighbors access fresh food during supply shortages. As Downtown continued to add new residents, businesses, and visitors, that temporary solution evolved into a permanent vision for a neighborhood market that combines restaurant-quality food with the convenience of everyday grocery shopping.
“For years, we have welcomed people into The Warehouse to gather around great food and meaningful experiences,” said Chef James Africano, co-owner of The Warehouse and Urban Grocer. “Urban Grocer is the next chapter of that vision. We wanted to create a neighborhood market where people can stop on their way home, pick up dinner, discover regional products, and find ingredients they can trust. Great cities are built around great neighborhoods, and every great neighborhood deserves a place that brings people together.”
With nearly 5,000 people now calling Downtown home, a near doubling over the past year, neighborhood-serving amenities like Urban Grocer are becoming increasingly important to creating a complete urban community. The market advances the vision outlined in the DDA’s Plan of Development, specifically Goal 2, which prioritizes investments that make Downtown the Pikes Peak Region’s most vibrant and welcoming neighborhood by expanding residential amenities such as grocery stores.
“Urban Grocer is exactly the type of investment envisioned in the Elevate Downtown Plan,” said Chelsea Gondeck, CEO of the Downtown Partnership. “As more people choose to call Downtown home, it’s critical that we continue investing in the everyday amenities that make urban living more convenient. Grocery options have consistently been identified as one of the Downtown community’s greatest needs, and Urban Grocer is an important step toward creating the vibrant, walkable neighborhood our residents, employees, and visitors expect.”
The project received support from the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) through a $50,000 Retail Incentive Grant and a $50,000 Building Enhancement Grant. The DDA’s incentive programs are designed to encourage investments that strengthen Downtown’s economy.
“The DDA’s investment in Urban Grocer reflects our commitment to implementing Elevate and incentivizing neighborhood-serving amenities that strengthen quality of life,” Gondeck said. “Projects like this help transform Downtown from a place people visit into a place where people choose to live by providing the services and conveniences expected in a thriving urban neighborhood.”
The grand opening celebration is free and open to community members and the media. Guests are invited to tour the new market, meet the Urban Grocer team, and experience Downtown’s newest destination for fresh food, prepared meals, and neighborhood shopping.
About Downtown Partnership
Downtown Partnership serves as the management organization for the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Downtown Ventures, and the Business Improvement District (BID), leading efforts that strengthen Downtown Colorado Springs as the region’s economic, civic, and cultural heart. For more information visit www.downtowncs.com, or contact Downtown Colorado Springs at 719.886.0088.
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