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A burger restaurant and a European bistro, bar and nightclub are expected to fill two prominent downtown Boulder properties.

Two men who run restaurants in Summit County intend to open a European-style restaurant and part-time nightclub at the former Foundry location, at 1109 Walnut St.

The yet-to-be-named restaurant, bar and nightclub could open later this summer.

Separately, a Boulder native plans to open Rueben's Burger Bistro in place of the former Scotch Corner Pub, off Walnut and Broadway. Owner Rueben Verplank is targeting an April 28 opening date.

"We kind of wanted to do something different in downtown and specialize in burgers," Verplank said.

The hope is to offer more than a dozen different burgers, with options such as all-natural beef, vegetarian, tuna and chicken; a variety of toppings; build-your-own macaroni-and-cheese plates; salads and mussels to accompany some of the specialty Belgian beers on-tap, he said.

Verplank said he also hopes a planned cycling theme for the restaurant and the burgers' price-points could play well with local residents.

"Boulder's got such a great cycling tradition that we want to celebrate that," he said, noting the names of the burgers and the decorations will play off that theme.

Rueben's is filling a 3,800-square-foot space vacated by the Scotch Corner Pub, at 1800 Broadway. The Scottish restaurant closed late last year in response to the weak economy, officials said at the time.

Less than a block away, another vacancy has been filled.

Business partners Eric Turner and Alfonso Natarelli this week signed a lease for 1109 Walnut St. The 8,670-square-foot location has been empty since November, when the New Foundry nightclub -- a revamped version of the Foundry pool hall and bar that opened in 1996 -- closed after 21 months in business.

Turner and Natarelli run the Alpinista Mountain Bistro in Copper Mountain; the Swiss Haven Restaurant in

The former Foundry, 1109 Walnut St., has been vacant since November. Two men who run restaurants in Summit County signed a lease for the 8,670-square-foot space this week, planning to open restaurant, bar and nightclub later this summer. (Paul Aiken/Camera file photo)
Breckenridge; and the absinthe-themed Green Fairy Nightclub in Copper.

Given its size and unique, multi-level layout, the former Foundry space could serve as an ideal location for a restaurant, bar and nightclub, Turner said.

Turner is envisioning putting a bar in the front lobby area of the building, with seating on the level above and on the rooftop deck. The bar in the middle of the building would remain and the open area in the heart of the first floor -- once home to pool tables and a stage -- will be used for a nightclub, which will be open initially only three to four days a week, he said.

Although he and Natarelli are still polishing up a concept, absinthe and a European theme could be featured, Turner said, noting that both he and Natarelli have experience in the restaurant and hospitality businesses in Europe and the United States.

Absinthe has gained in popularity since the U.S. government approved its sale in 2007, Turner said.

Turner said, he hopes the end result will be similar to the original Foundry in that it attracted several different groups of customers.

"Regardless of who people are, it's a place where they can go," he said.

Contact Camera Business Writer Alicia Wallace at 303-473-1332 or wallacea@dailycamera.com