Chestnut Cellars to open boutique wine and spirits shop in Denver’s RiNo

When corporate communications and marketing professional Chris Gallegos was laid off about a year and a half ago, he faced a career crossroads.

Instead of climbing back up the corporate ladder, Gallegos decided to turn his passion for wine and whiskey into his first entrepreneurial venture.

In September, that vision becomes reality with the grand opening of Chestnut Cellars, a boutique wine and spirits shop on the ground floor of Flora, a 12-story residential building at 3500 Chestnut Place in Denver‘s RiNo Arts District.

Spanning just 630 square feet, Chestnut Cellars is designed to prove that size isn’t everything when it comes to exceptional taste. Rather than overwhelming customers with endless aisles, Gallegos is using the small footprint to offer an intentional, curated selection.

The shop will feature:

• Colorado makers highlighting the state’s craft spirit and distilling scene
• Underrepresented producers, prioritizing wineries owned by families, women and members of the LGBTQ+ community
• Accessible price points, ensuring high-quality bottles are attainable for casual drinkers and connoisseurs alike.

To elevate the retail experience, the storefront will feature a dedicated cheese corner offering curated pairings. Customers can learn the sommelier science behind combining specific cheeses with wines, a skill Gallegos is honing as he completes his official sommelier certification.

“We want to encourage folks to explore and get those different tastes in one setting,” he said.

For Gallegos, a North Denver native, opening a business in RiNo is personal. He’s watched the city’s urban landscape transform over the last decade.

“I remember going to Trax in my early 20s,” Gallegos recalls, pointing out that the corridor from Broadway down to Larimer was once nothing but warehouses – an environment that didn’t encourage pedestrian traffic.

Today, the area has evolved into a vibrant, walkable cultural hub. While Gallegos views Denver’s Central Business District as having lost some of its luster, neighborhoods like RiNo and South Broadway have become the new go-tos for people looking for urban dining and shopping options.

The shop’s design will pay homage to the area’s urban evolution, featuring a modern, minimalist and industrial aesthetic that complements Flora’s architecture.

Chestnut Cellars wants to be more than a retail store. It’s positioned as a community gathering space. Once permitting is finalized, Gallegos plans to host weekly tasting events to profile local craft distillers and boutique vineyards.

The hyper-local focus fits with Flora’s community-driven ethos. Developer Brock Fleming said he’s looking forward to Chestnut Cellars opening.

“It’s such a collaborative neighborhood, and Chris is excited to be a part of that,” he said.