Denver food truck Vegan Van has served its last customers at its popular Park Hill location. But don’t worry, it’s not bad news. Justin and Brittney Gurule, the couple behind the food truck, are now the proud owners of a brand-new brick-and-mortar restaurant along Colfax Avenue.
Just like the food truck, the new spot will serve plenty of plant-based comfort food inspired by fast-food favorites.
The Gurules took over Vegan Van in 2016. At the time, they “wanted to make approachable vegan food that they actually wanted to eat,” general manager Hannah Eaves recently told VegNews.
It’s worth remembering that 10 years ago, plant-based food was starting to gain popularity, but it hadn’t quite hit the mainstream. Today, of course, it’s a different story. Denver is emerging as a vegan foodie hot spot, and the Gurules have played a significant role in that change.
Vegan Van
“At the time, there weren’t a ton of vegan options in Denver, and they wanted to help change that,” said Eaves. “Vegan Van is proudly Denver’s first vegan food truck.”
At the new Colfax location, fans can expect to tuck into Vegan Van classics, including crunchwraps, tacos, meaty sandwiches, wraps, and loaded fries.
To deliver on its goal of making plant-based food accessible, the Vegan Van team takes plenty of inspiration from popular fast-food menus, including those at Taco Bell, McDonald’s, and other major chains.
Vegan Van
“We draw inspiration from all over,” said Eaves. “We have featured specials inspired by KFC, Arby’s, Panda Express, and many more. It all goes back to the original goal Justin and Brittney set out with: make good food that we want to eat.”
A new restaurant built for community
But Vegan Van isn’t just about serving good food. It’s also about bringing the community together.
“We want to keep that same energy and that feeling of coming to hang out with your friends and eat really good food,” added Eaves. “We also really want to keep the community aspect. The people who have supported us over the years are such a huge part of Vegan Van, and [that’s] why we want that to continue.”
According to Eaves, Vegan Van will host monthly movie nights and live music. For younger guests, there is even a play area “with a mini food truck and hammocks.”
“I’m especially excited about our outdoor seating,” she added. “Denver has beautiful weather for most of the year, so we really want to take advantage of that.”
Vegan Van opens at its new Colfax location on October 17. It will serve customers seven days a week from 9 am to 8 pm.
“After everything Vegan Van has been through and everything we’ve learned, finally having a permanent home feels really special,” said Eaves. “If, after that first year, we look around and feel like we’ve created a place that people genuinely love and feel connected to, I’ll consider that a huge success.”
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
JUMP TO ... Latest News | Recipes | Guides | Health | Subscribe
Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
