Two La Lomas — including the flagship location downtown — will change names following angry and public divorce proceedings that split the fortunes and the Mexican restaurants owned by the family, the two sides announced this week in separate statements.
Related: La Loma sharing custody of green chile recipe in divorce
William Brinkerhoff ceded the “La Loma” name to his ex-wife, Renee Brinkerhoff, who now owns the locations in McGregor Square (across from Coors Field), Parker and Greenwood Village, the latter of which is opening this month at 8000 E. Belleview Ave.
La Loma, the brand and the restaurants (as well as future locations), are now under her exclusive ownership, she said in her statement. Renee Brinkerhoff acquired the assets in the divorce from William and runs them with her son, William Brinkerhoff, Jr.
Her other son, Mark Brinkerhoff, runs the restaurants retained by his father, the elder William Brinkerhoff. Those locations, at 1801 Broadway and in Castle Rock, have been renamed as Savina’s Mexican Kitchen, according to a statement from their Brinkerhoff Hospitality group.
Savina “Grandma” Mendoza was the founder of La Loma, when it opened at its original location in northwest Denver in 1981. She also created the recipe for its signature green chile before selling the restaurant to the Brinkerhoffs.
“For more than 45 years, my grandfather Sonny, my father William, and I have shaped and stewarded these restaurants into what they are today,” Mark said in the statement.
“We are now entrusting my mom, Renee, with the La Loma name in a bid to bring peace to our family and to position her for success,” he added. Parting with the La Loma name “is bittersweet, but it’s critical to preserve the trust of our guests and their dining experiences. Having two separate operators using the same name creates confusion and compromises our ability to maintain the hospitality our guests have come to know and love.”
Though the restaurants are now known as Savina’s, Mark said, “the food, the atmosphere, and the experience will not change.”
Both families retain Mendoza’s original green chile recipe, a judicial arbiter ruled in the divorce proceedings. All of the locations feature images of Savina Mendoza.
In addition to two Savinas, William Sr. and Mark own Sierra in Lone Tree and two restaurants opening in Castle Rock this year, they said: The Brinkerhoff and Bar Hummingbird.