Local Business Spotlight: Gladys Restaurant

Chelsea Steen
5 days ago
3 min read

When you walk into Gladys, you can feel the warmth before you even take a bite. This modern, vegetable-focused restaurant is built on the timeless values of hospitality, connection, and care. It was named after co-owner Rocky Hunter’s grandmother, whose nurturing spirit inspired the heart behind the restaurant.

Co-owners Rocky Hunter and Dave Grant, along with General Manager Javier Roth, have created something truly special in the Denver dining scene. After three years as a small stall tucked inside the Edgewater Public Market, Gladys expanded into its own standalone space in July 2024, trading the back hallway for a front-facing, light-filled home where food and hospitality shine side-by-side.

A Fresh Take on Seasonal Dining

Gladys is all about vegetable-focused, seasonal fare. Each menu is inspired by the quality and availability of local produce. With every season, the team looks at what’s fresh and in front of them, then builds creative dishes that highlight those ingredients while reducing waste and keeping things exciting for returning guests.

Nearly everything on the menu is made from scratch, using raw ingredients and thoughtful technique. Guests can always count on a few signature staples, like their Reuben, Caesar salad, and house-made veggie burger, further complimented by a rotating selection of seasonal dishes that keep the experience new and inspiring.

A New Space Rooted in Hospitality

For Rocky, Dave, and Javier, Gladys has always been about more than food - it’s about the feeling. The new restaurant finally allows them to create the full hospitality experience they’ve always envisioned.

Open seven days a week from 11am-9 pm., Gladys offers counter service at lunch and full-service dining at dinner, with plans to launch weekend brunch in the near future. Long term, the team is excited to introduce a tasting menu experience at the counter for those who want to explore the menu more deeply.

Zero-Proof, Full-Flavor

In a world where dining often centers around alcohol, the Gladys team proudly takes a different path. All three owners are sober, and that commitment is reflected in a thoughtfully crafted zero-proof beverage menu. Guests can enjoy house-made mocktails, kombucha and other offerings - all created with the same level of detail and creativity that goes into their food.

From Friendship to Partnership

The story behind Gladys is as heartfelt as its concept. Rocky and Dave first met over 20 years ago while playing in a band, long before their culinary paths would reunite. When COVID hit, a coffee conversation between the two sparked the idea that would eventually become Gladys.

Meanwhile, Javier met Rocky while working at Fruition in Cherry Creek years earlier. Their shared love for food and hospitality kept them connected, and when Gladys opened its first location, Javier joined the team after one bite of the now-famous Reuben. Today, the trio leads a growing team that shares their values of quality, creativity, and genuine connection.

The Heart Behind the Hospitality

For Rocky, being part of Gladys is about more than cooking, it’s about creating a space where everyone feels welcome, no matter what kind of day they’re having. “People can come in on the best or worst day of their life,” he shares, “but they’re all here for the same thing—connection through food.”

For Javier, who describes himself as naturally introverted, the restaurant has become a place of growth and belonging. The connections formed with guests and team members alike have been deeply meaningful—and that sense of community radiates through the entire dining experience.

Even subtle design touches, like photos of the team’s grandparents throughout the modern space, serve as a quiet reminder of the family spirit that inspires everything they do.

Gladys has been one of my go-to restaurants in our neighborhood for the past few years and I cannot recommend it enough!