Today, 3/31, We Celebrate Pete Sr.

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Today, 3/31, is an important day for Illegal Pete's. Today we celebrate Pete Sr.'s birthday, the father of our Founder and President, who's name is also Pete. Pete and his father are pictured here, Pete sitting to the right of his father (from our view) and holding his niece who was born just five days before Illegal Pete's was, in August of 1995. You may not know it, but the spirit—and even the name—of Illegal Pete's is very much a tribute to Pete Sr. Before Illegal Pete's was even a restaurant, Pete looked to his father for guidance and support to open it, and they spoke every day. Even as Pete Sr. faced terminal cancer in the days leading up to Pete's Boulder-Hill opening in 1995, he was a pillar of strength that carried Pete through the uncertain, early days of the company. Pete Sr. lived to see the second anniversary of the restaurant, but sadly passed just nine days after that milestone on August 24, 1997. The following year, Pete found enough success to open his second location, on Pearl St. in Boulder. In that restaurant, he was moved to honor his father and memorialize him in the new location. It was then that the Loteria Card series was born. Featured here is the first Loteria Card series, which Pete had commissioned and mounted in the Pearl St. location. The images each represent an important part of the human experience—"La Mente" (The Mind), "El Cuerpo" (The Body), and "El Alma" (The Soul)—and was made personal with the images that, to Pete, represented qualities and memories of his father. The green easy chair makes reference to the peace that Pete Sr. found in his later years (and was his favorite color). The boxer is an homage to both Pete Sr.'s fight for survival in the midst of an eight-year battle with cancer and also an allusion to a important memory Pete has of going to his first concert, Simon & Garfunkel, with his father, at Folsom Field. And the radio represents music, dancing, and good times, which indeed was the soul of who Pete Sr. was. The cards, in order, feature the numbers 3, 31, and 40, to represent his birthday, March, 31, 1940. Over the years the Loteria Card system has become a staple in each restaurant, with each card representing either something from Pete's history or, later, something resonant of the neighborhood in which the restaurant operates. The commitment to this tribute in and of itself also holds weight, as Pete Sr.'s family, from Cedar Rapids, IA, had always revered art—to the extent that they had even housed Grant Wood, his mother, and sister in their carriage house while he painted American Gothic. Pete's family's appreciation for the arts and their commitment to supporting artists is in Pete's blood. It has informed many of his choices including starting the record label, Greater Than Collective, donating to arts grants, and commissioning these unique paintings for each of his restaurants. And it has informed the projects we have on the horizon, ones that we are excited to share with you and that we have been working on for a long time now. But for today, March 31, we'll stop there and focus on celebrating Pete Sr. To his life, legacy, and the values he inspired.

For questions and interviews, please email marketing@illegalpetes.com

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Announcement: Illegal Pete's LODO (RE)OPENS TODAY

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Illegal Pete's LoDo Reopens Today in a New Location Pete Turner photographed in front of the new LoDo location at 1610 16th St., February 2021. It is with tremendous gratitude and excitement that we announce that Illegal Pete's LoDo reopens today on the corner of 16th St. and Wazee, in the former Lucky Pie space.  Pete Turner, Founder and President, originally opened his Lower Downtown location on January 5, 2001 in the Sugar Building. The restaurant was his third location of the Mission-style burrito concept and his first expansion outside of Boulder, CO. The area looked a lot different at the time he opened, and he faced serious doubt about whether the neighborhood was strong enough to support his venture. After 20 years, "Sugar" (as the location has been lovingly called) proved to be a slam dunk. So much so that customers and staff yearned for a bigger space. As things happen, a spot just two-doors down and across the street became available at just the right time. So, on December 24th, 2020, Illegal Pete's LoDo closed the doors of its former space, a closure that signified the end of an era for Pete's, and one that was also end-capped by the extraordinary events that defined 2020 as a whole: the COVID-19 pandemic.  With the remodeling of the new space timing out with the transition into 2021, the transformation has been as symbolic as it has been literal. The space (now lovingly called SugarPie) now dons classically Pete's fixtures like color-washed walls, black steel and a bar that complements the burrito counter. As Pete aptly summed it up, the new spot is "Double the space, triple the patio, and 100% sunshine." And while it's South-West facing patio certainly does position it for epic sun exposure that is prime for patio sessions and weekend hangs, more than that it is a reminder of where we've been and the brighter future that has finally arrived. Today begins a new chapter, one that looks warm and sunny, and one that we can't wait to share with you.   *** From here on out, Illegal Pete's LoDo is open 7 days a week, has happy hour from 3-6pm, and offers indoor and patio dining as well as pickup and delivery.  To order for pickup or delivery, for information on our hours and happy hour (relaunched everywhere yesterday!), or to check out deals, visit our website at www.illegalpetes.com or follow us on Instagram (@illegalpetes).  Thank you for your continued support of Illegal Pete's over the years, from 1995 through today. We are so honored to serve the communities in which we operate and we strive to continue to earn a place in your lives each day, for many years to come. Now let's eat, drink, and be merry!   With much love and gratitude, Pete and the Illegal Pete's Team

Pete Turner photographed in front of the original LoDo location at 1530 16th St., January 2001. For interviews, questions, or feedback, please email: julie@illegalpetes.com

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Happy 303 Day! Celebrate CO Today w/ a FREE Treat from us!

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303 Day (aka March 3rd) is a celebration of all things Colorado, and in honor of it, TODAY ONLY we're offering a FREE small chips & and queso with purchase of an adult entree!   To redeem in store: Mention 303 Day when ordering your entree to add your queso treat.   To redeem online for pickup or delivery: Order through our website and add the relevant items to your cart, then enter promo code "303DAY" at checkout to redeem your goodie.   Note: Limit one redemption per order; not available through DoorDash.   *** 303 Day is much bigger than just Illegal Pete's - it's about Colorado! Looking for an experience this evening? Check out the multidimensional event at The Woods at the top of the Source Hotel this evening to taste a special, New Belgium beer, see a live broadcast from Nerf of KTCL 93.3, and celebrate the release of 303 Magazine's 303 Music Vol. 4 vinyl, which features a curated variety of tracks from Colorado artists. Staying in more your thing? Order the vinyl from Vinyl Me, Please and support Colorado artists, 303 Magazine, and Colorado nonprofit, Youth On Record all in one swoop!   Have a wonderful 303 Day, y'all!

Illegal Pete's - Colfax 2001 E Colfax Ave Denver, CO 80206 Unsubscribe