Downtown Denver is getting a new steakhouse, as restaurateur Jeff Moerke prepares to transform the former 801 Fish space at 999 17th Street into Nine9Nine Steakhouse, Seafood and Raw Bar.
The planned restaurant will take over approximately 9,000 square feet in the heart of downtown. Moerke, who owns The Tavern on Blake Street, signed a lease for the property in November, marking another addition to his growing Denver restaurant portfolio.
BusinessDen reported the lease signing on November 6, with the Denver Post following the story the next day. Moerke is targeting the end of 2026 for the restaurant’s opening, although the timeline remains a goal as the project moves toward its buildout.
Nine9Nine is expected to offer a menu built around steaks, seafood and raw bar selections. According to the Denver Post‘s reporting, diners can expect cuts such as tomahawk steaks and filet, alongside oysters and other seafood options.
The restaurant is also expected to put an emphasis on open-flame cooking, with the preparation visible to guests from the dining room and raw bar. Moerke plans to source much of the food from Colorado ranchers, while seafood will be brought in daily.
The menu is intended to appeal to both downtown workers and visitors, particularly those staying in nearby hotels or attending events at the Colorado Convention Center. Plans also include lunch service seven days a week, with sushi rolls and burgers among the more accessible options.
The name Nine9Nine takes its cue from the restaurant’s street address. The space will also undergo changes ahead of its next chapter, including a redesigned entrance at the corner of Curtis and 17th streets, darker wood finishes and new furniture. The property owner, Shea Properties, is expected to cover most of the renovation costs, according to the Denver Post.
Moerke is no stranger to Colorado’s restaurant scene. Alongside his wife, Ashley, he has operated Tavern Kitchen & Bar in Snowmass and Carbondale, as well as Il Poggio in Snowmass. Earlier this year, he brought his Tavern concept to downtown Denver with the opening of The Tavern on Blake Street, near Coors Field.
Nine9Nine will give the hospitality group another foothold in the city, this time with a concept that brings together Colorado beef and a seafood-focused raw bar in one downtown setting.
If the current timeline holds, the new restaurant could welcome its first guests before the end of the year.
