Meet Kendra Anderson of Bar Helix in RiNo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendra Anderson.

Kendra Anderson is the owner + operator of bar helix, a modern, sexy bar + lounge offering innovative cocktails, an extensive by-the-glass wine selection, and decadent small plates.

Bar Helix is the culmination of Kendra’s 15+ -year journey to become immersed in a lifestyle that revolves around exploring the very best of food and wine.

In 2002, Kendra graduated from Denver’s Cook Street Culinary School professional chef program, which is where she began training to become a sommelier, attaining her Advanced Sommelier certification in 2006.

Kendra owned and operated flavor catering + event planning from 2003-2008, which she transitioned in 2011 to a wine consulting and event management business. From 2010 to 2013, she authored a weekly column on wine + culture for the Denver Westword and contributed to other publications including Colorado Homes + Lifestyles and Wine + Spirits.

Bar Helix opened in Denver’s historic RiNo Arts District on October 3, 2017.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My journey has been far from smooth.

It took me five years from creating the first incarnation of the business plan for bar helix to getting our doors open. I was working a full-time job as a management consultant, which prevented me from dedicating my focus + attention to bringing my dream to fruition. I was unable to raise more than $50,000 of outside investment, forcing me instead to leverage my own financial security by taking on a $250,00o small business loan.

Within the first six months of opening, ten new restaurants or bars opened within one mile of bar helix, creating an impossible-to-predict competitive landscape and deeply impacting our revenues. We have also experienced higher-than-average employee turnover as a direct result of the unprecedented volume of food + beverage concept openings in Denver.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Bar Helix is known for creating unique food + beverage experiences that deeply affect our guests’ perception of what a bar can be.

We are the only negroni cocktail bar in the western united states, offering at least twelve variations on this signature cocktail every single night. In addition to the negroni, we offer sixteen other craft cocktails which feature a variety of lesser-known spirits + other ingredients as we strive to continually expand our guests’ knowledge + enjoyment of these items.

We’re also a legit wine bar — with anywhere from 20-30 wines by the glass {half of which being Champagne or sparkling wine} available nightly.

Our biggest point of pride is the unusually high level of service we provide to every single guest — we are more like a fine-dining restaurant than a downtown bar.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was a total nerd. A bookworm and a musician, I never played sports, preferring to lose myself to alternate realities I found in the stories I would read.

My family traveled extensively which led to my early exposure to a vast world of interesting foods…which set me on my path to becoming a chef {though I wouldn’t realize it until I was almost 30 years old}.

Contact Info:

• Address: 3440 Larimer Street
• Website: www.barhelixdenver.com
• Phone: 720-449-8587
• Email: info@barhelixdenver.com
• Instagram: barhelixdenver
• Facebook: barhelixdenver

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.