Wine and cocktail lounge taking former Squeaky Bean space downtown

The restaurant: The Velvet Cellar, 1500 Wynkoop, Denver

About: Friends Reilly Chunn, 38, and Chris Dominey, 39, have known each other since they were 15. , and the duo has wanted to open a wine and cocktail lounge for years. The idea for the Velvet Cellar was born over a couple of drinks. Dominey, a sommelier, is working toward his Level 4 Diploma in Wines and wanted a platform to share his education, while Chunn has a background in business.

The Velvet Cellar is taking over the former Squeaky Bean space downtown, which has been vacant since the brunch spot closed in 2016. It will be an upscale, yet approachable, wine and cocktail lounge with a chef-driven menu.

“The landlord has purposely left the space vacant for so long because he’s been fortunate enough to be select...