On the corner of 25th and Ames St in historic Edgewater, where neighbors gather, and stories are shared over cold drinks and warm pizza, you’ll find Edgewater Inn and Lot 46 — a place built on grit, community, and heart.
Owner Niya Gingerich didn’t just stumble into the restaurant world. She grew up around the neighborhood and has worked in hospitality since she can remember—from La Dolce Vita in Arvada to Table Mountain Inn in Golden, and eventually Mead Street Station in North Denver. What started as a job to pay for college turned into a calling. “I have always believed that true hospitality is about making people deeply welcomed and comfortable, creating a home away from home,” Niya Gingerich.
She and her husband Grant, first transformed a legendary venue, The Music Bar into the first conception, Local 46 which became a beloved North Denver institution, complete with concerts, weddings, and a patio that became a true community hub, but unfortunately they did not own the building and were forced to say goodbye at the end of their 10 year lease in 2022. But just weeks before the final night, fate intervened.
Sitting at the bar at Edgewater Inn, a place Niya grew up coming to, Niya learned the historic space, founded in 1953 by the DiPietros, was for sale. “The bartender, who was the owner’s daughter and had her entire life growing up there, said, ‘You should buy this place.’ I said, ‘Are you kidding?’” The rest, as they say, is history.
Today, Edgewater Inn and Lot 46 represent a fresh institution, one that honors the legacy of the space while elevating the experience. The former parking lot has been transformed into a vibrant patio. Inside, the dining room and pizza parlour remain much the same, but they were able to expand and build Lot 46 on the west side of the existing building, bringing the Local 46 vision back to life as Lot 46 (the actual land lot number!)
The menu has evolved, too. The pizza dough is now a classic five-ingredient recipe, hand-tossed to order for that perfectly bubbly crust. The mozzarella? Made from scratch. The produce? Delivered multiple times a week by local supplier Fresh Guys to ensure peak freshness. You’ll find Caprese salads piled high with fresh basil and tomatoes, wholesome options alongside classic pies, and a bar program rooted in Colorado craft beers and spirit-free offerings.
Yes, the original fryer is gone — a bold move — but what remains is a fresh, scratch menu focused on quality.
At its core, though, this place is about more than food and drinks. It’s about being a “third place” — not work, not home, but the space in between where connection happens. Niya and her team center their culture around three values: connection, generosity, and fun.
What truly defines Edgewater Inn and Lot 46 is the feeling when you walk in — the warmth at the bar, the hum of conversation on the patio, the sense that you’ve found your place.
If you haven’t visited yet, consider this your invitation. Pull up a chair. Order a hand-tossed pie.
Stay awhile.
You just might find your third place.
