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Axios Boulder Partners

Crocs capitalizes on holes in clogs and tax code

From major acquisitions to a longtime shop closing, August has brought plenty of change.

News

It&#x27;s been another busy month for the Boulder-area business scene.The big picture: A longtime Pearl Street shop is closing, an alt-weekly may be coming back to life, and Crocs is getting attention for its Mediterranean tax strategy.

Inside BVSD's plan to shrink its school footprint

Four schools would close as BVSD responds to years of declining enrollment.

South Boulder would bear the brunt of Boulder Valley School District&#x27;s sweeping consolidation plan, with three elementary schools slated to close and students shuffled across the area.Why it matters: The proposal shows how BVSD is responding to declining enrollment while trying to preserve its preferred model of at least three classes per grade.

CU rolls out ChatGPT amid continuing concerns

The launch follows months of faculty concerns over privacy, equity and the contract.

University of Colorado students will get free ChatGPT access this semester despite a months-long delay — even as concerns about privacy, equity and the university&#x27;s OpenAI contract persist.Why it matters: CU is betting that giving every student access to AI — with required training and school safeguards — is better than leaving them to navigate the technology on their own.

Casa Juani is among the nation's hottest tables

The Pearl Street newcomer is among Bon Appétit's 19 best new restaurants in America.

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Boulder&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Casa Juani" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/03/25/casa-juani-spanish-restaurant-pearl-street-buzz" data-vars-content-id="0768004f-d1e1-414d-b77d-c38ca4bf6ee8" data-vars-headline="Casa Juani is among the nation&#x27;s hottest tables" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/03/25/casa-juani-spanish-restaurant-pearl-street-buzz" target="_self">Casa Juani</a> is living up to the hype, landing on Bon Appétit magazine&#x27;s 2026 list of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="19 best new restaurants in America" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-new-restaurants-2026" data-vars-content-id="0768004f-d1e1-414d-b77d-c38ca4bf6ee8" data-vars-headline="Casa Juani is among the nation&#x27;s hottest tables" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-new-restaurants-2026" target="_blank">19 best new restaurants in America</a>.Why it matters: The honor adds to a growing list of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national accolades" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2025/12/02/frasca-top-us-restaurant-ranking" data-vars-content-id="0768004f-d1e1-414d-b77d-c38ca4bf6ee8" data-vars-headline="Casa Juani is among the nation&#x27;s hottest tables" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2025/12/02/frasca-top-us-restaurant-ranking" target="_self">national accolades</a> for downtown Boulder&#x27;s dining scene, which has gained fresh momentum in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="post-pandemic years" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/01/08/boulder-pearl-street-revitalization-downtown-plan" data-vars-content-id="0768004f-d1e1-414d-b77d-c38ca4bf6ee8" data-vars-headline="Casa Juani is among the nation&#x27;s hottest tables" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/01/08/boulder-pearl-street-revitalization-downtown-plan" target="_self">post-pandemic years</a>.

Fortezza bets on upscale dining in Niwot

Fortezza celebrates one year as Niwot's restaurant scene faces rising costs.

Fortezza Ristorante is celebrating one year of Italian food, wine and hospitality in the quiet community between Boulder and Longmont.Why it matters: The anniversary marks an early checkpoint for whether upscale dining can thrive in a place as small as Niwot.

Ironwood brings new dining to Flatirons Golf Course

Because the most important hole is the 19th hole.

Ironwood Bar and Grille at the Flatirons Golf Course is giving golfers — and everyone, really — a new dining destination in east Boulder.Why it matters: Because the most important hole is the 19th hole.

Japanese convenience store brings konbini experience to Longmont

From onigiri to rare snacks, this shop feels like a stop in Japan.

A Longmont shop is bringing a taste of Japan&#x27;s beloved convenience stores to Boulder County.Catch up quick: The concept, dubbed Kawaii Konbini, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="began as a food truck" data-vars-click-url="https://www.westword.com/food-drink/kawaii-konbini-brings-japanese-food-and-ggfts-to-longmont-25097872/" data-vars-content-id="8fe36b1f-44cf-4570-859c-d219bacd501a" data-vars-headline="Japanese convenience store brings konbini experience to Longmont" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.westword.com/food-drink/kawaii-konbini-brings-japanese-food-and-ggfts-to-longmont-25097872/" target="_blank">began as a food truck</a> 2020 and then became a pop up in Old Town Market and St. Vrain Cidery.

Boulder's Okigiri Cafe puts sandwich spin on onigiri

Rice sandwiches packed with fillings have arrived in Boulder.

For folks looking to shake up their lunch routine, check out the new Okigiri Cafe in Boulder.What to expect: The cafe, at 1629 28th St., just off Arapahoe Avenue., specializes in what it calls &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Okinawan onigiri" data-vars-click-url="https://www.okigiricafe.com/x2atjpkq/okigiri-cafe-boulder-80301/order-online?menu=All+Day+Menu&amp;category=Special#menu-section" data-vars-content-id="2b2e904c-c211-4b46-9def-c56ccd2ea5bf" data-vars-headline="Boulder&#x27;s Okigiri Cafe puts sandwich spin on onigiri" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.okigiricafe.com/x2atjpkq/okigiri-cafe-boulder-80301/order-online?menu=All+Day+Menu&amp;category=Special#menu-section" target="_blank">Okinawan onigiri</a>,&quot; a western spin on the traditional Japanese rice snack.

Morso reawakens south Boulder as a dining destination

Hosea Rosenberg leaned into Italian-American comfort food inspired by his family's East Coast roots and his wife's New Jersey upbringing.

Italian-American restaurant Morso gives south Boulder something it&#x27;s been missing for years: a buzzy opening from one of Colorado&#x27;s best-known chefs.Why it matters: &quot;Top Chef&quot; winner Hosea Rosenberg&#x27;s latest restaurant, paired with the opening of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Siren Cocktail Bar" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/01/20/siren-cocktail-bar-boulder-opening" data-vars-content-id="13b5ba4b-6650-4e0b-8c2d-46522e1a1086" data-vars-headline="Morso reawakens south Boulder as a dining destination" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/01/20/siren-cocktail-bar-boulder-opening" target="_self">Siren Cocktail Bar</a> next door, give the Table Mesa Shopping Center a nice double-punch dining and drinking destination.

Inside north Boulder's new French bistro

A cozy new neighborhood spot serves French classics, cocktails and happy hour.

Food and Drink

A new French bistro is bringing a certain je ne sais quoi to Boulder&#x27;s dining scene.The big picture: North Boulder is quietly becoming the city&#x27;s go-to destination for intimate neighborhood restaurants that pair upscale dining with a relaxed feel.

Boulder weighs higher tip offset for restaurants

The proposal could change tipped wages and restaurant labor costs starting in 2027.

City Council will vote Thursday on whether to let restaurants pay tipped workers less than the city&#x27;s standard minimum wage beginning next year.Why it matters: The decision could reshape restaurant labor costs and tipped workers&#x27; pay in one of Boulder&#x27;s biggest workplace policy debates in years.

Boulder Bites: New restaurants underway, brewery birthdays

New restaurants, brewery parties and taco fest plans.

Boulder&#x27;s food scene has plenty cooking, from a buzzy opening to bagels, beer and pizza expansions.Dig in: We&#x27;ve got your delicious buffet of food news.

Dirty sodas pop off at Pearl Street's Snack Spot

Cool off with dirty sodas, floats and treats in downtown Boulder.

If you&#x27;re looking for a refreshing sipper on a hot day along the Pearl Street Mall, location beats size.State of play: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Snack Spot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/eatsnackspot/" data-vars-content-id="de2e96f1-91a4-4070-a296-a2d7bfc79e81" data-vars-headline="Dirty sodas pop off at Pearl Street&#x27;s Snack Spot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/eatsnackspot/" target="_blank">The Snack Spot</a>, which opened last year in a kiosk at 1397 Pearl St., offers a variety of drinks and a small snack menu in the heart of downtown Boulder.

Axios Denver

Who's hot (and who's not) in Colorado's beer scene

Denver

A heat table that ranks Colorado craft breweries by 2025 production and year-over-year change. Monster Brewing Company  leads at 285,000. Tivoli Brewing Company is second at 115,000 and posts the largest gain, up 101.75%.

Food and Drink 🍽

Casa Juani is among the nation's hottest tables

Who's hot (and who's not) in Colorado's beer scene

Fortezza bets on upscale dining in Niwot

Ironwood brings new dining to Flatirons Golf Course

Japanese convenience store brings konbini experience to Longmont