Department of Excise and Licenses

After two decades of being dormant, Little Pepinas will be resurrected as Kobe An Japanese Fondue

We've written quite a bit about the demise of Denver's red-sauce joints, the old-school neighborhood restaurants that once formed the nucleus of northwest Denver, or, as some called it, Little Italy. After 66 years as the city's longest family-owned Italian restaurant, Pagliacci's shuttered last yea ... More >>

Spuntino will undergo a remodel, expand its menu and pursue a full liquor license

In early February, Spuntino, the Highland restaurant and dessert palace overseen by betrothed couple John Broening (he's the chef) and Yasmin Lozada-Hissom (she's the pastry chef) will close for a week -- maybe two -- to undergo a major makeover, and when it reopens, guests will not only be treated ... More >>

Rockbar's request for special event cabaret permits denied

And the hits just keep coming for Rockbar, the hipster hangout that Jesse Morreale opened six years ago when he bought the All-Inn at 3105 East Colfax Avenue. Last week, the city denied Rockbar's request to renew its hotel and restaurant liquor license, but extended its temporary license until Nove ... More >>

Rockbar files response to recommended denial of liquor-license renewal

The deadline for comments on the suggested denial of Rockbar's liquor-license renewal -- issued ten days ago by hearing office William Hobbs -- was 5 p.m. today. For In the meantime, Jesse Morreale, the owner of Rockbar, has been busy, with staff and supporters exercising a "three-tiered outreach ... More >>

Justin Cucci opening Chain Lightning, a bar, restaurant and live music venue

There's been buzz circulating for months that Justin Cucci, the owner/chef of Linger and Root Down (and, at some point, a second Root Down at DIA), had his clever hands in another project, and now we can confirm exactly what that is: Cucci will open a bar, restaurant and live music venue, currently ... More >>

Cafe Max will open on East Colfax

Balance, a former hair salon at 2412 East Colfax Avenue, has fallen by the wayside, but the space, the interior of which is bright purple and psychedelic green (at least for now), has been snapped by Maxwell Hopewell-Arizmendi and Yukihiko Koyama, who plan to open Cafe Max.

Long Bar at Colorado Center applies for a liquor license

The United Artists mega-movie house and Dave & Buster's, both anchor tenants at Colorado Center, the sprawling development at I-25 and South Colorado Boulevard, are getting a neighboring waterhole and restaurant.

El Flamingo Billar coming on South Sheridan

An old pool hall on Sheridan Boulevard at Mississippi is showing signs of new life: Construction is under way at this colorful, decrepit arcade, and a sign posted in the window -- plus a liquor license application -- indicates the address is becoming El Flamingo Billar. Details are sparse, although ... More >>

Larimer Associates will open the Lowry Beer Garden in the new Hangar project

Joe Vostrejs and his Larimer Associates partners traversed across the country to check out America's beer gardens before they came back to Denver to build their own -- and what they found, admits Vostrejs, was surprising.

Cherry slated to go into former Bar Luxe space in Cherry Creek at 231 Milwaukee Street

​Earlier this year, Michael Olsen tried to open another version of Hush, the nightclub he used to have in the Larimer Square spot now occupied by Wicked Garden. He was met with some opposition from Cherry Creek residents, who opposed his plans to put a dance club in the basement of 250 Steele ... More >>

Cherry slated to go into former Bar Luxe location

Earlier this year, Michael Olsen tried to open another version of Hush, the nightclub he used to have in the Larimer Square spot now occupied by Wicked Garden, but Cherry Creek residents lined up in opposition to his plans to put a club in the basement of 250 Steele Street. But Olsen isn't giving ... More >>

Vietnam Grill goes for a liquor license

​Vietnam Grill has been slinging pho and spring rolls from its Federal Boulevard strip mall spot for a few years, but now the eatery is hoping to add alcoholic pairings to the menu. The restaurant just applied for its liquor license, and if all goes according to plan, it'll add beer, wine and ... More >>

Brown Dog Pizza liquor-license hearing today

Lori Midson​Brown Dog Pizza, an outfit out of Telluride, wants to put a pizzeria into a former auto-repair shop at 1001 South Gaylord Street -- and supporters and opponents alike have their engines running for today's liquor-license hearing. It's set for 6 p.m. at the Wellington E. Webb Munic ... More >>

After promising to never pour liquor, Zingers applies for a liquor license

Lori Midson​A year ago this month, when I first spoke with Dennis Krieger, the owner of Zingers, a small-mall joint near the University of Denver that pushes chicken wings in a gazillion guises, along with chicken nuggets in a bag, chicken salad and a whole coop of other college-appropriate g ... More >>

Wild Eggs pursues a liquor license

Lori Midson​Wild Eggs, a Louisville, Kentucky-based mini-chain, is taking over a section of the square footage at 300 East Alameda Avenue, a space that most recently housed a Blockbuster Video -- and it's applying for a liquor license, because it sucks to eat eggs Benny without backing it up ... More >>

Gordo Loco has a big burrito challenge -- and a bigger challenge getting a liquor license

Gordo Loco's counter is sturdy enough to hold the five-pound El Diablo.​Gordo Loco is fast gaining a reputation for its fast, filling 98-cent breakfast burrito, which it starts making at 6 a.m. every morning. But Gordo Loco offers many other burritos, including the monstrous El Diablo that was ... More >>

Hush could reopen in Cherry Creek -- but first it needs to survive today's liquor-license hearing

Sign of the times: Liquor-license hearing notice for 250 Steele Street.​Restaurants have a tough time making a go of basement space, and the 250 Steele Street address has been a particularly black hole. Although Bistro Adde Brewster had a long run there, the spot has since swallowed up French ... More >>

Denver City Council committee moves forward with medical marijuana zoning proposal

​A revised version of a proposed Denver city ordinance that, according to attorney Warren Edson, would have closed 137 of Denver's 150 medical marijuana grow operations, and potentially dispensaries associated with them, passed through Denver City Council's Special Issues Committee this aftern ... More >>

After Denver rejects a liquor license for a new craft beer bar, the owners appeal to Governor Hickenlooper, brewer to brewer

​The owners of a proposed craft-beer bar along Seventh Avenue's restaurant row were shocked earlier this month when a hearing officer for the city of Denver's excise and license division suggested that their liquor license request be denied. "There was no public opposition from nearby restaur ... More >>

Colorado Senator Chris Romer keeps pushing his Denver Cupcake Truck petition

​Colorado Senator Chris Romer, who's making a run for mayor now that Hick is the new guv, seems to be making cupcakes -- notably those from the Denver Cupcake Trucks -- one of his top priorities. Last week, we reported that Romer had splashed his official website with a plea to sign a petition ... More >>

Pasquini's goes for a cabaret license

The Highland Pasquini's has become a neighborhood hangout. The Highland branch of Pasquini's, at 2400 West 32nd Avenue, is going for a cabaret license so that it can offer live music at the restaurant, which has become quite the hipster hangout as well as a major pizza purveyor. The hearing is at 9 ... More >>

First look at the Snooze expansion

Soon the lines will be forming outside of Snooze, the popular breakfast spot in the Ballpark neighborhood. So popular, in fact, that owner Jon Schlegel decided to create a second Snooze.  "I'd say that we're screening a lot of places right now," he told me a couple of months ago. He finally set ... More >>

Wheels of Fortune

Steve Meyer wants to sell pedicabs to the world — but is the world willing to go along for the ride?

Swapping Names

Letters to the Editor

From the week of August 24, 2005

License to Chill

More lofty ambitions from Scottie Ewing.

Homeless for the Holidays

Give this guy the bum's rush.

Off Limits

Out of the Box

The Long Drive

ProTAXI could spell relief for Denver cabbies.

The Beatdown

It’s a jungle out there when you’re trying to open up a new club.

A Dog-Eat-Dog World

The doggie daycare business is growing -- and growling over one competitor.

Backwash

The Skylark Lounge gets a green light on its move to a new nest.

Backwash

Scott Campbell moves down the road and away from the 15th Street Tavern.

Tape Worms

The camera doesn't lie -- but every picture tells more than one story.

Backwash

The City of Denver prepares to vote on a bill that affects all ages.

Backwash

The Denver music community unites, while Together Production’s rave efforts fall apart.

Backwash

Denver clubs face a fight for the ages.

Last Dance

LoDo's only hip-hop club was hot. Too hot for the neighbors, who put a stop to F-Stop.

Party Central

Neighbors have reservations about a rowdy hotel bar.

Battle of the Bulges

Male strippers are the latest victims in the city's war on crack.

Begging for a Living

U.S. Mission supports a network of professional beggars who go door-to-door to pay their rent.

A Hard Shot to the Ribs

Reverend Harris's neighbors smoke him out.

It's a Date

Mouthing Off

Loft Horizon

A pioneering urban couple battles to keep LoDo livable.

Cruising the Webb

Even before he banged into a parked car, the mayor's stepson left an impression on others.

Mean Spirits

How a politically fortified liquor store battle gave Congress Park a hangover that won't go away.

BOTTLED RAGE

WARNING TO LIQUOR STORES: CONGRESS PARK IS NOW IN SESSION.

MOUTHING OFF

MOUTHING OFF