Denver City Wire

Following a lengthy renovation, the restaurant formerly known as Tom's Diner is now ready for its new chapter as a 1970s Palm Springs-inspired Tom's Starlight.

The rebranded local favorite restaurant formally opened on Sept. 28 at 601 E. Colfax Avenue. Owner Tom Messina said he is eager to welcome back loyal Denver customers to the establishment's newly refurbished interior and outdoor areas.

“To see the finish line is phenomenal,” Messina told 9News. “It was exhausting; nothing went as planned, I’ll say that.”

Tom Messina purchased the Googie-style structure at 601 East Colfax Avenue, built in 1967 for a White Spot café, in 1999, Westword reported. For twenty years, he managed the 24-hour Tom's Diner, which became a Capitol Hill institution.

The restaurant has undergone a complete renovation with a 1970s Palm Springs style, which was derived from the original building's design. Tiki totems, cabanas, fire pits, and other amenities have been installed to make the parking lot into an outdoor dining area. The inside deli counter has been converted into a cocktail bar.

"The architecture of the building dictates what we're doing here," Messina explains.

The redevelopment of the former restaurant parking lot into a terrace with a 250-person capacity and 150 chairs, is perhaps the most noticeable alteration longstanding patrons will note. The change has doubled the floor plan while providing a smooth transition from the interior to the outside areas. The transition is timely according to Messina, because outside dining and drinking have become more popular since the outbreak.

Tom's Starlight will serve an old-school menu and cocktails inspired by sunny locales like Palm Springs, Florida, and the Caribbean.

"We have water, we have fire, we have sun," Messina stated. "I think it's going to be a nice place to come in, have a drink and feel like you're on a little mini vacation. This is an iconic building, and it looks great. I'm glad we were able to really buff it and wax it and bring it back to its heyday with a 21st-century twist."