Denver Department of Excise and Licenses

The Matador gets its liquor license -- and could soon be pouring tequila on West 32nd Avenue

The Matador is moving into the original home of Heidi's Deli, at 3496 West 32nd Avenue. But not as quickly as it had wanted to. Initially, the Seattle-based Tex-Mex chain had hoped to open its eighth location (there are four in the Seattle area, two in Portland and one in Boise) by Cinco de Mayo -- ... More >>

Gather's liquor license is a lesson in smart city planning

Subway may have run into trouble by shorting the measurements of its footlong sandwiches, but the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses has gotten nothing but kudos for the rule change it made late last summer, allowing "bona fide restaurants" within 500 feet of a school to apply for a hotel and ... More >>

Pasquini's on 17th gets its dance cabaret license

At the end of November, the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses approved the dance cabaret license application filed by Pasquini's Pizzeria on 17th Avenue, which means this latest location in the Pasquini's empire can now offer live music, which has been such a hit at the Highland location. Th ... More >>

Jesse Morreale's fight with the city doesn't end at Rockbar -- the First Avenue Hotel is next

Jesse Morreale has decided he can't fight city hall on two fronts. And so after last call on Saturday, October 27, he'll close Rockbar, the hipster hangout he opened in the motel at 3015 East Colfax Avenue that he bought almost seven years ago; the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses declined t ... More >>

With Walmart out of the way, what should fill the CU Healthcare District?

Reader: If complaints from four residents can shut Rockbar, are other businesses in danger?

Since it opened six years ago, Rockbar has been a hipster hangout -- the go-to place for Hollywood celebs during the Democratic National Convention, but also a regular stop for people out and about on the weekend, or who're just looking for a place to park (the All-Inn that holds Rockbar has a lot - ... More >>

Rockbar liquor license renewal hearing tonight

Jesse Morreale has spent much of the summer in meetings with the city, which on July 10 slapped a "notice to vacate" on his First Avenue Hotel - which holds Sketch and El Diablo, as well as Morreale's offices. And those meetings aren't over yet. But his next meeting with the city doesn't involve t ... More >>

For its new rule on liquor licenses near schools, Denver deserves extra credit

Rockbar liquor license hearing moved to September

Update below: Jesse Morreale has been spending a lot of time in meetings with the city recently, ever since the First Avenue Hotel, home of El Diablo and Sketch, was red-tagged on July 10. After a hearing before the Board of Appeals last week, he was able to reopen the two restaurants...but he still ... More >>

MMJ advertising ban: How will it be enforced?

How will Denver's ban of all outdoor advertising for medical marijuana businesses -- approved last night in a quick, unanimous vote by Denver City council members -- be enforced? A note sent to councilmembers last week by Tom Downey, head of the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses, gives some c ... More >>

Sugar House loses its liquor license...permanently

The house that former pimp Scottie Ewing built -- better known as the Sugar House -- is gone for good this time. The swingers' club by night, burger joint by day (as the Alameda Grill) had been closed since February, when new owner Kelly Bailey, the former manager, was served with a notice of a liqu ... More >>

Amerigo Delicatus will move into the former Bamboo Hut spot

It's not quite the Bamboo Hut, the legendary former tenant at 2449 Larimer Street, but an occupant has signed on for the address that once held one of the town's best Mexican (yes, Mexican) restaurants: Amerigo Delicatus Restaurant & Market is going into the spot.

Blue Sushi Sake Grill has a liquor license hearing today

Last fall, LoDo was all about pizza. Now, it's sushi. Blue Sushi Sake Grill, a link in an Omaha-based chain that signed on for half of the Dixons space at 16th and Wazee streets that wasn't taken by Lucky Pie, had a liquor-license hearing this morning with the Denver Department of Excise and License ... More >>

Medical marijuana licensing more liberal in Denver than in Boulder?

​Boulder may have a reputation for being the most liberal spot in Colorado. But it turns out that Denver takes a much more liberal approach to licensing medical marijuana businesses, the state's biggest -- only? -- growth industry over the last few years.

Gary Lee's Motor Club and Grub going in at 176 South Broadway

​This old garage space looks shuttered now, but it's the future home of a new restaurant: Gary Lee's Motor Club and Grub. And while we're guessing the opening is still a ways off -- a deserted car lot flanks the front of the building and will require some serious clean-up -- the spot has appl ... More >>

Cafe Pure goes for a liquor license

​Cafe Pure is a tiny cafe that fronts the Aveda salon at the corner of 17th and Market streets, providing a shot of caffeine to customers in for a haircut and a midday respite for cubicle warriors from buildings nearby. The cafe would like to offer more than just coffee and pastries, though, ... More >>

Masterpiece Delicatessen looks to land a liquor license

​ Masterpiece Delicatessen hardly needs another reason to give crowds a reason to stop by: The breakfast and lunch eatery has been packing hordes of patrons into its tiny space and downtown-facing patio since it opened three years ago. But Steve Allee and Justin Brunson are about to make the n ... More >>

Hush has a deadline of 5 p.m. today to object to liquor-license denial

Lori Midson​Don't put on your dancing shoes yet, Creekers. After an epic, hours-long liquor-license hearing March 25 at the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses, Michael Olsen's plans to put a version of his Hush nightclub into the subterranean space at 250 Steele Street seem doomed. Ols ... More >>

Lao Wang Noodle House is closed for remodeling -- and there's a liquor license in the works

​An uncontrollable craving for xiao long bao (aka Shanghai dumplings, aka soup dumplings, aka heaven) hit early this afternoon, and there was one obvious place to feed the beast: Lao Wang Noodle House, the Taiwanese joint that makes a kick-ass basket of the buns. But as we pulled off Federal ... More >>

Sputnik reopens tomorrow after getting ripped for liquor-law violation

​Sputnik, the hipper-than-thou Baker 'hood bar, renowned for its hangover weekend brunch, live music acts and globetrotting menu catering (mostly) to vegetarians and vegans, has gone dark, at least until tomorrow, when the tatted 'tenders can begin pouring booze again. Seems as though the gr ... More >>

The former Roxy Theater is up for lease

Will a nearby school put a halt to Welton Street's resurrection?

The Rossonian Hotel is just beyond the 500-foot, no-liquor line.​As we reported yesterday in Cafe Bites, there have been numerous roadblocks to the redevelopment of the strip of Welton Street that's at the heart of Five Points -- some anticipated, some surprising. The most recent? The Tubman H ... More >>

Coming soon to Cherry Creek: Sweet Ginger Asian Bistro & Sushi

Lori Midson​While Cherry Creek just lost Tambien, one of the tony neighborhood's best independent restaurants, the downstairs space at 2710 East Third Avenue, formerly Plush, is poised to become Sweet Ginger Asian Bistro & Sushi. Located directly next door to -- and sharing a patio with -- ... More >>

Justin Cucci to open Linger in LoHi Marketplace

​Linger has a date with the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses on May 26. Justin Cucci, chef/owner of Root Down, has signed on for a second space a few blocks away from his restaurant at 1600 West 33nd Avenue. This one is in the old Olinger's building that's been redubbed the LoHi Market ... More >>

Medical marijuana dispensaries in Denver: Guess how many file by March 1 and win a marijuana lei

​The stereotypical pothead moves slowly -- but this is ridiculous. By last Friday -- the end of the second week during which medical marijuana dispensaries could file their now-required dispensary applications with the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses -- exactly 61 had done so. Which ... More >>

Medical marijuana dispensaries in Denver have five days left to get a license

​Colorado's medical marijuana industry has been compared to the Gold Rush of 150 years ago, but so far, there's been no rush for dispensaries to get legal in Denver. Under Council Bill 34, a dispensary must have a city sales-tax license and also apply for a specific dispensary license by Marc ... More >>

Medical marijuana dispensary owner sleeps in car and pays $5,000 for the privilege

​Wesley Fazio waited twelve hours -- in a cold car, in his long underwear -- for a shot at making his soon-to-open dispensary legal. Yesterday, the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses started accepting applications for medical marijuana dispensary licenses -- which every operational disp ... More >>

This Just In: Star Bar not shining so bright these days

​ Star Bar, one of the state's classic dives at 2137 Larimer Street, has gone dark to due to a liquor violation by the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses. No word on yet on when it will re-open.

Another Asian joint arriving on Alameda

Lori MidsonThe future site of Asian Diner​ Directly across the street from Swing Thai, less than a block away from Fontana Sushi, exactly one block from Thai Basil and a short three-block walk from Crazy Asian Cafe, sits the future home of Asian Diner. And once it opens at 295 South Pennsylvania S ... More >>

Confusion reigns over Zaidy's Fusion Grill

Zaidy's in happier days.​The residents of Writer Square were ready last night with their petitions complaining about a proposed liquor-license change for the former Zaidy's Deli Downtown, which morphed into Zaidy's Fusion Grill this spring and was planning to transform itself again into Fusion ... More >>

Zaidy's liquor license up tonight

The lights were off on Monday, and the listing suddenly disappeared from the upcoming hearings schedule at the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses -- but by all accounts, the liquor-license hearing at which the city will consider whether to expand Zaidy's license to allow live entertainment at ... More >>

Confusion over Fusion Cantina, the former downtown Zaidy's

Zaidy's in Writer's Square​Zaidy's Deli, a mainstay at 121 Adams Street in Cherry Creek for decades, opened a downtown outpost several years ago in Writer Square. It did a decent breakfast and lunch business there, but the crowds flocking to LoDo and Larimer Square in the evening -- and walkin ... More >>

Chile Verde liquor license hearing tomorrow

Lori MidsonWouldn't these tables look better with beers on top?​ Cross your fingers for Eder Yanez-Mota, the owner of Chili Verde, the spot at 3700 Teon Street that's been cooking up southern Mexican cuisine for a few months now. He opened the restaurant without a liquor license, but all tha ... More >>

Chili today, hot tomorrow

Lori Midson​We're hearing good things about Chili Verde, a new restaurant cooking up southern Mexican cuisine at 3700 Tejon Street. Good things, that is, about everything but its lack of alcohol -- but that could change next month. Owner Eder Yanez-Mota has a liquor-license hearing with the D ... More >>

Wine Cellar, Brio liquor license hearings today

As reported here in March, the Wine Cellar could soon uncork in Highland. This morning, the prospective owners of the joint, which would take over the spot at 2556 15th once occupied by the Red Door shop, are at their liquor-license hearing before the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses right ... More >>

KJ's Coffee Bar going for its bar exam

KJ's Coffee Bar opened last summer at 1710 East 25th Avenue, but it finally held its grand opening celebration on May 23. And KJ's could soon have more reason to celebrate. This community gathering place for the Whittier neighborhood is going for a beer/wine liquor license, with a hearing slated f ... More >>

Taqueria Mi Pueblo goes for a liquor license

The burrito wars are heating up on North Federal Boulevard, with a new Santiago's and Jack-n-Grill duking it out in the 2500 block, and Taqueria Mi Pueblo offering $1.99 breakfast burritos, as well as other authentic Mexican fare, just two blocks away at 2300 Federal. And Mi Pueblo could soon have ... More >>

Cellar Wine Bar pours out its plans

The folks behind the Cellar Wine Bar, slated for the former home of the Red Door at 2556 15th Street, have applied with the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses for a beer and wine liquor license. They'll meet with neighbors and the board of Highland United Neighbors tonight at the Asbury Churc ... More >>

What's wrong with mariachi music at Mezcal?

Mezcal cabaret application decision due soon

After dueling meetings with business and neighborhood groups last week, Mezcal's application for a cabaret license went before a hearing officer with the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses on Monday. Supporters of the application -- which would allow owner Jesse Morreale to regularly feature ... More >>

We'll Drink to That

Thirst Fridays

You don’t need liquor to appreciate art — but it helps.

Letters to the Editor

From the week of 5/10/2007

Pour It On

Art goes dry.

Backwash

The City of Denver puts a cork in the outdoor-concert alcohol policy at the Botanic Gardens.

The Bite

Liquor-license woes affect a large venue and a small establishment.

Backwash

A couple of city councilwomen stick up for all-ages shows in Denver. But who will save the rave?

Backwash

The city's new all-ages policy draws jeers -- but no beers.

Backwash

Will the city’s new policy on all-ages clubs turn Denver into a teenage wasteland?

Backwash

The Flying Dog Brewery throws local musicians a bone.