Urban Egg next door will expand into Dublin Boulevard space
Salsa Brava Fresh Mexican Grill is saying “adios, amigos” to Colorado Springs after more than two decades and its next-door neighbor, Urban Egg, is expanding.
The first restaurant concept created by Springs-based Rocky Mountain Restaurant Group, Salsa Brava began serving up modern Mexican dishes crafted with fresh local ingredients 24 years ago. It will serve its final guests at 5925 Dublin Blvd., Unit A, on Aug. 29.
Urban Egg, another of the restaurant group’s concepts that has been operating side by side in the same building with Salsa Brava since 2016, will expand into the space, said founder Randy Price. Both restaurants share one kitchen but have offered separate dining experiences for the last decade.
“Twenty-four years ago, we set out to create a place where people could enjoy great food and genuine hospitality. What followed became something much bigger than a restaurant,” Price said in a company news release. “Every guest, every team member and every celebration helped shape who we are today. While this chapter is bittersweet, I’m incredibly proud that Salsa Brava’s legacy will continue through our people, our restaurants and our continued commitment to this amazing community.”
Salsa Brava first opened in 2002 in Rockrimmon on Colorado Springs’ northwest side. It quickly became a local favorite known for its bold flavors, including its signature green chile and pineapple-infused vodka.
At one point, Rocky Mountain Restaurant Group operated four Salsa Brava locations throughout Colorado, in the Springs, Denver and Fort Collins. Three of those locations were eventually revamped into Urban Egg concepts.
Urban Egg, a daytime eatery serving breakfast and lunch, first launched as Over Easy in downtown Colorado Springs in 2012. Its Springs locations underwent a name change in 2019 to streamline branding with other Urban Egg restaurants Price had opened in Denver.
The decision to close Salsa Brava is strategic, not driven by financial distress, Price told The Gazette. Urban Egg has continued growing and leadership saw the opportunity to expand it further.
The local landscape for Mexican and Tex-Mex fare has changed in recent years, he added. Alongside other regional operations, several new players have come into town, like Irving, Texas-based Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Austin, Texas-based Torchy’s Tacos and Orlando, Fla.-based Chuy’s.
“We were watching that segment grow; and understanding that Urban Egg is the future for Rocky Mountain Restaurant Group, it was easy for us to say that we’re going to experiment with a larger footprint with Urban Egg,” Price said.
The expanded 5,400-square-foot Urban Egg on Dublin Boulevard will feature more seating, can host private events, will shorten wait times, improve kitchen efficiencies, expand catering and third-party to-go programs, and provide a dedicated training environment for staff. It will also allow the company to test new items.
“It gets me really excited,” Price said. “It’ll be fun to have a dedicated location to do menu and food and beverage testing for new features. … I think there’s a lot of positives, and it will test what a 5,400-square-foot Urban Egg might be able to do for us in future markets.”
Salsa Brava employees, some of whom have been part of the brand for 20 years or more, have the opportunity to transition to other Urban Egg locations. Price estimated 30-35 Salsa Brava employees will be absorbed into Urban Egg.
Urban Egg has nine Colorado locations, including four in Colorado Springs; two Texas locations, with two others opening soon in Austin and Coppell; and one location each in Overland Park, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo., according to its website.
Salsa Brava will celebrate its legacy over the coming weeks, with live music planned for its final two weekends in August. The restaurant will offer “throwback” 2002 pricing on margaritas and is reviving some fan-favorite dishes, like margarita chicken enchiladas.
“As anticipated, we’ve been pretty busy since we announced (the closure). … We’re not going to change our minds, but we really do want to celebrate the incredible 24 years that Salsa Brava has had,” Price said.
Since announcing its closure in a social media video, the Colorado Springs community has shown an outpouring of love for Salsa Brava, with some requests to “keep selling the salsa.”
“Well this isn’t good news. There are few establishments in this city that I truly enjoy, and Salsa Brava is one of those few,” Russell Thompson commented in part. “… Thank you for the memories, you will be missed.”
Urban Egg will expand its hours in September, staying open an hour later on weekdays and weekends and opening half an hour earlier on weekends.
Effective Sept. 3, Urban Egg at 5925 Dublin Blvd., Unit B, will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
