Pearl Market & Wine and Carmella’s Creator Dustin Chiappetta will operate new food and wine destination in Erie neighborhood
Southern Land Company (SLC), a Nashville-based national real estate developer of award-winning master-planned and mixed-use communities, has announced that Denver-area hospitality operator Dustin Chiappetta will introduce a new neighborhood-driven food and wine destination, in Westerly, SLC’s nearly 800-acre master-planned community in Erie.
Emphasizing fresh, quality ingredients and products, the market and restaurant will take inspiration from Chiappetta’s Pearl Market & Wine in Denver, blending prepared foods, grab-and-go meals, house-made provisions, specialty grocery items, and a curated wine and beer selection into one welcoming, everyday space that neighbors can rely on and enjoy multiple times a week.
The concept will serve the Westerly and Erie communities throughout the day and mature as the neighborhood grows. Inspired by the original Carmella’s in Denver, the restaurant will offer an approachable menu featuring thoughtful sourcing, made-from-scratch cooking, and a clear respect for ingredients, all served within a warm, welcoming setting.
“Our vision for Westerly has always included spaces that foster connection and neighborly interactions,” said Brian Sewell, SLC President and COO. “Dustin’s vision aligns perfectly with ours, creating a gathering place that brings people together while adding a new level of everyday convenience for homeowners and the broader Erie community. We look forward to seeing this become a go-to spot for wholesome food and meals and carefully sourced wines, where countless memories will be made.”
Chiappetta brings more than 20 years of hospitality experience to the project, including opening Pearl Wine Company in Denver’s South Pearl Street neighborhood in 2015 and Pearl Market & Wine and Carmella’s in North Central Park in 2024. His approach centers on sourcing from family-owned wineries and local makers, transparency in ingredient origins, and creating neighborhood gathering spots designed for daily life. Beyond food and wine, his concepts are known for thoughtful programming and community events that bring neighbors together.
“Westerly values long-term stewardship and thoughtful design, and that matters deeply to me as an operator,” said Chiappetta. “I believe the best neighborhood markets and restaurants grow alongside the community they serve. Our goal is to create something that feels rooted from day one—a market you trust, a restaurant you frequent, and a space that becomes part of everyday life at Westerly.”
The market and restaurant will occupy approximately 6,400 square feet within an approximately 10,000-square-foot building in the heart of Westerly.
“I’ve spent my career building places centered on food, wine, and hospitality because those things bring people together naturally,” Chiappetta added. “When I look at Westerly—with its emphasis on walkability, shared spaces, and community—it feels like the kind of neighborhood where those connections happen organically. That’s why I’m excited to bring a new market and restaurant to the community. This isn’t about opening another location; it’s about becoming part of a neighborhood.”
The remaining space in the shared building will house SLC Homes—SLC’s homebuilding division—and SLC’s land development teams for Colorado. Groundbreaking on the commercial space is slated to take place in early summer 2026.
Designed for those who value activity, connection, and convenience, Westerly will, upon completion, feature approximately 3,100 homes set within a traditional neighborhood framework. More than 290 acres are allotted for parks, trails, and open space. Westerly homeowners enjoy sweeping views of the Front Range and Longs Peak, along with easy access to ample outdoor recreational opportunities.
The southern portion of Westerly, which comprises 400 acres at the southeast corner of County Road 5 and Erie Parkway, welcomed first homeowners in 2023. Homes are being built by DRB Homes (formerly Brightland Homes), McStain Neighborhoods, and SLC Homes.
Residents enjoy the Westerly lifestyle at the Waypoint, a state-of-the-art wellness-focused amenity center. Designed as a central community hub, the Waypoint features a resort-style pool, 17-seat hot tub, and fire pits, as well as more than 6,100 square feet of indoor space with a fitness studio, remote workspaces, and community room. Homeowners also enjoy access to regular and special programming coordinated by a dedicated community lifestyle manager.
SLC expanded Westerly in 2023 with the acquisition of an additional 391-acre parcel from the Colorado State Land Board. The additional land—located on the northern side of Erie Parkway—will bring a diverse housing mix including single-family homes, townhomes, live-work townhomes, multifamily residences, and active adult villas. The north will also feature more than 50 acres of parks and open space, more than seven miles of trails that connect to the existing community, and up to 150,000 square feet of commercial space within a Town Center. Additional plans include a second amenity center with additional fitness and wellness offerings, lifestyle programming, and events.
In November 2025, Westerly was named Community of the Year by the Denver Marketing & Merchandising (MAME) Awards, presented by the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver—a recognition of the community’s thoughtful design, quality execution, and sales success.
SLC’s footprint in Colorado includes several other communities. In 2025, SLC celebrated the grand opening of Arden Karl’s Farm, an expansive garden-style rental community in Northglenn. SLC previously developed, owned, managed, and sold Centric LoHi and Bespoke Uptown in Denver and REVE Boulder in Boulder.
SLC’s portfolio of master-planned communities beyond Colorado includes:
- Westhaven, a 1,500-acre, 3,500-home, award-winning master-planned community in Franklin, Tennessee;
- Fairington, a 373-acre, 735-home master-planned community in Nolensville, Tennessee;
- Lunaroya, an intimate luxury home community in Dripping Springs, Texas;
- Tucker Hill, a master-planned community in McKinney, Texas; and
- Mare Island, a large-scale revitalized mixed-use community with housing, entertainment, hospitality, and business opportunities on a historic peninsula in Vallejo, California.
Learn more about Westerly by visiting westerlycolorado.com.
A full list of SLC’s communities is available here.
