Ralphies Bar & Grill is coming to the spot previously occupied by Harpo’s Sports Grill at 2860 Arapahoe Ave.

“It’ll be a sports bar, a better version of Harpo’s,” said Minh “John” Bui, a partner in the new business venture. “We’re trying to keep the name short.

The remodeling of the 5,600-square-foot facility is underway.

“We’ll keep the way it is, but make it modern. It’ll have black and gold colors of CU,” Bui said.

The company, Dang Minh Nguyet, Inc., jointly owned by Bui and Nancy Dang, already have spent about $50,000 and might spend an additional $50,000 to give the building a swank look and feel. It also plans to install two dozen 55-inch TVs. Ralphies is slated to open in mid-December.

Harpo’s was shut down in March by owners Charlie Schmanski and Mark “Harpo” Karpowich after a 15-year run due to high costs and a thinning number of patrons that made the business unsustainable.

Bui, who also works as manager at Vina Pho & Grill, a casual Vietnamese restaurant near the 29th Street Mall, is optimistic about the Arapahoe location. He said he sees it as a great business opportunity. “We’ve a new game plan to get the CU crowd. We’ll have more events.”

DJs, live music, entertainment and special events will help create the right vibe, he said, adding he’s drawing upon ideas to jazz up his place from many LoDo nightspots.

The company is in the process of developing a menu for Ralphies. It’ll include wings, burgers, kebabs, nachos and other fast foods, Bui said. “It’ll be fresh.”

Bui remembers going to Harpo’s as a customer to watch sports. He said he was particularly impressed by the layout of the building. Ever since Harpo’s closed down, he’d been eyeing the location. In mid-October, his company signed a five-year lease.

He plans to hire at least 30 employees to help run the place. Some old Harpo’s employees, including the store manager, are coming back to work for Bui. “I’m excited. We’re putting in a lot of effort to make it special.”

Pratik Joshi: 303-684-5310, pjoshi@dailycamera.com