Denver’s Blue Pan pizza opening third new location in Golden

Blue Pan pizza’s crust is getting even more Golden.

The local Detroit-style pizzeria is buying its first slice of real estate in Golden and plans to open a location at 17525 S. Golden Road, recently home to Basic Kneads Pizza, in the summer.

“Buying the property was really important to us because as it relates to real estate costs and rent, we’re able to have way more control as a small business,” said co-owner Giles Flanigan. “Our business now is not dependent on leasing other people’s real estate, which was a goal of ours for several years. It provides a better pillar of stability for Blue Pan.”

Flanigan said he and co-owner Jeff Smokevitch have been looking to buy property for their third location for the last five years. Blue Pan closes on the 2,900-square-foot building on Friday, although a deed was not available prior to publication.

Because the space was already home to a pizza joint, it won’t need many renovations. Although, Flanigan said they plan to add a family-friendly outdoor patio with games in addition to the 400-square-foot heated and enclosed patio that already exists. This will be Blue Pan’s first location with outdoor seating, and there is also a large parking lot, making to-go orders and dining in more accessible.

“Golden has a great demographic,” Flanigan said. “I’ve lived out there for nine years. When we moved to my old street in 2013, we were the only family on the street, but by the time we moved, we were one of eight. So there’s a migration going on of families, which is our target market.”

Flanigan and Smokevitch opened Blue Pan’s first location in the West Highland neighborhood in 2015, adding a second in Congress Park two years later. The pizzeria quickly grabbed Denver’s attention with its thick, sheet-pan-cooked slices that are best eaten with a fork and cheesy, caramelized crusts.

Flanigan said the pizza joint is mainly eyeing the suburbs for its future expansion plans.

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