On one of our romps through Old Town Fort Collins, my wife Robyn and I stumbled across an amazing little cheese shop called "The Welsh Rabbit."  In a space formerly used as a small theater at 216 Pine Street, the warm atmosphere and delicious offerings from The Welsh Rabbit had us hooked right away.  Needless to say, I was excited to hear that The Welsh Rabbit is expanding!

With the La Luz Mexican restaurant moving next door, into the old Rasta Pasta space, The Welsh Rabbit is expanding into the old La Luz location at 200 Walnut Street.

Owner Nate Hines said the bistro will be similar to the current cheese shop; but it will offer more seating and an expanded menu, adding selections like lamb and duck.

The bistro should also be able to much better accommodate the shop's incredible (and sudden) popularity.

Hines said he and his brother, Dean, originally intended the cheese shop to be a place where people would sample the wares, but generally take them home. He said they only put tables in at the space at 216 Pine St. because they had extra space. They never expected, he said, for the shop to become so popular so quickly.

“We have been absolutely overwhelmed,” he said. “We didn’t expect the tables to take off the way they did.”

Hines hopes to have the bistro open by this fall, possibly by October.  I, for one, will be there!

I call this a "win" for the Fort Collins restaurant scene.  What do you think?

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