Business Spotlight: Orion Hot Pot
As soon as you step foot in Orion Hot Pot on Ralston Road, you know you’re in for a treat. The traditional decor, the soft lighting, and the enticing smell of flavorful stew invite you to sit down and warm your soul with a family-style dinner packed with lean protein, veggies, mushrooms, and spices. Once you take your first bite, you’ll know this visit won’t be your last.
But co-owner Olla knows you have to get inside the front door first.
The challenge
Olla and business partner Nathan had their eyes on their future home — on Ralston Road near the Ralston Creek Trail — for about a year after it went on the market. When they were finally able to purchase the property in 2024, they knew they had to nail the look to pull in customers from a stretch of road that doesn’t get much foot traffic.
“I wanted to build an eye-catching restaurant that you’d want to check out when you drive by, so that when you get inside and see the space we’ve created, you’ll be impressed,” Olla says.
They succeeded in making the perfect first impression. Customers tell Olla all the time that when they eat at Orion Hot Pot, they feel like they’re eating the traditional Chinese meal in China itself. But the transformation wasn’t easy — or cheap.
The solution
The first year, like the first year for so many small businesses, was hard for Olla and Nathan. They persevered. Then one day, a staff member from AEDA walked in the door and introduced herself. “We started telling [Senior Economic Development Specialist Sarah Miley] our story, and she connected us to so many resources we wouldn’t have known about,” Olla says.
One of those resources was AEDA’s Exterior Improvement Grant. Since 2017, the grant opportunity has funded improvements to the curb appeal of more than 60 businesses, amounting to more than $38 million in investment in the Arvada community.
Orion Hot Pot applied for the grant in 2025 and was awarded $15,000 toward the cost of their already-finished improvements. Olla says the investment changed everything. “That extra help from AEDA made the difference for us getting through,” she explains. “It was the first time I’ve ever won anything in my life.”
For Olla and Nathan, AEDA’s support sets Arvada apart. “My partner has opened restaurants in other cities, but he never received a grant from anywhere else. This is a great city to open a business.”
The 2026 Exterior Improvement Grant application is open through Monday, March 16. To learn more and apply, visit the grant info page.
Check out Orion Hot Pot’s menu and order online at their website.
