Maria Empanada Opens New Location at Union Station
The restaurant enters the high-traffic transit hub as operators capitalize on the station's recent facility upgrades.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Openings & Closings
Live Poll
Do you believe adding more dining options to transit hubs like Union Station improves your experience?
Maria Empanada has opened its sixth Denver location, occupying a space in the Great Hall of Denver Union Station. The new store serves empanadas, coffee, and sweets with daily operating hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Why it matters
The opening follows a recent series of renovations at Denver Union Station that included the Great Hall, Cooper Lounge, and 112 hotel rooms, positioning the restaurant to capture high-traffic visitor and commuter demand.
Maria Empanada now operates six Denver locations, having expanded from a $300 startup investment in 2011. The new Union Station storefront maintains daily hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to serve the station's high-traffic environment.
The players
Maria Empanada
A Denver-based restaurant operator that serves empanadas, sweets, and coffee.
Lorena Cantarovici
The founder of Maria Empanada who launched the business in 2011.
Denver Union Station
A historic transit and commercial hub that recently completed renovations of its Great Hall, Cooper Lounge, and 112 guest rooms.
The details
The restaurant occupies a space within the newly renovated Great Hall at Denver Union Station. Operations leverage both walk-in and digital traffic, with customers able to purchase items individually or by the box. The menu focuses on high-margin prepared foods, including empanadas, coffee, and sweets, designed for both commuters and hotel guests.
Timeline
2011: Maria Empanada is founded by Lorena Cantarovici.
October 16, 2026: The Denver Union Station location opens for business.
7 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Daily operating hours for the new location.
Market Landscape
This opening aligns with the recent commercial revitalization of Denver Union Station following extensive renovations to its historic Great Hall and guest amenities. The brand’s placement mirrors a broader strategy of locating high-margin food retail within modernized, high-traffic transportation hubs.
Operators in high-traffic transit hubs should monitor how the recent facility upgrades at Denver Union Station impact daily foot traffic and sales patterns. Evaluate if your current service hours are optimized to capture both early-morning commuter spikes and evening leisure demand.
The takeaway
The expansion demonstrates the viability of scaling a specialized, low-overhead concept into high-profile, renovated commercial spaces. Track how the menu mix and online ordering options influence daily turnover rates at this high-volume location compared to previous sites.
Further reading
For more on shifts in local retail footprints, visit Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ColoradoBiz.
Live Poll
Do you believe adding more dining options to transit hubs like Union Station improves your experience?
