Morreale heads back to the future with Sketch

Over a year after he closed the well-reviewed but poorly performing Sketch Food & Wine in Cherry Creek, it looks like restaurateur/developer Jesse Morreale is reviving the concept -- or at least the name -- on Broadway.

Morreale bought the historic, decrepit and partially vacant 1st Avenue Hotel building at 101 Broadway (pictured here in 1917) earlier this year. Now he's applied for a liquor license under the name of Sketch for a spot in the corner of the building (where the notice is posted)..

The first Sketch, which had a high-end feel, opened at 250 Steele Street in early 2006, then closed in July 2007; it was replaced by Tambien, a Mexican food eatery owned by Morreale, chef Sean Yontz and two other business partners. Tambien fit the more casual eating niche that Morreale has found success with at Mezcal, at 3230 East Colfax Avenue. (He also owns La Rumba and Rockbar.)

For more, read previous posts on Morreale and the First Avenue Hotel.