Buzz has been going around in Loveland about what will be replacing the former Pinocchio’s Incredible Italian space at 1455 Rocky Mountain Ave. 5280 Magazine claims that Savina’s Mexican Kitchen is coming to the city, and most bets are placed on that building.
While What Now Denver was not able to confirm this with the Savila’s team, co-owner Mark Brinkerhoff told 5280 the brand’s development pipeline includes coming to Loveland this spring, and opening one in Colorado Springs later on down the line. Several residents in local Facebook groups are saying the same thing.
The building, located within the Marketplace at Centerra, has sat vacant since Pinocchio’s was evicted in March 2024. Prior to that, it was previously a Johnny Carino’s. In the last few months, demolition and construction activity have been ongoing at the site, but the project is being kept under wraps.
Savina’s Mexican Kitchen has deep roots in Colorado. The company traces back to 1973 when the original La Loma was opened. Following a family restructuring last year, the downtown Denver and Castle Rock locations were rebranded as Savina’s in honor of the family matriarch. They are operated by Mark Brinkerhoff and his dad, William; the two also own the newly debuted Bar Hummingbird and The Brinkerhoff in Castle Rock.
