Tom Downey

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 >>

Trader Joe's gets its retail liquor license in Denver

We can almost taste the Two Buck Chuck. The Trader Joe's store that will be located at 790 Colorado Boulevard had a date with the city last Friday for a hearing on its liquor-license application -- and the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses just approved its retail liquor store license, which ... More >>

Last call for Rockbar on Colfax this weekend

It's the end of an era. This news coming on the heels of the Lancer Lounge closing, and word that Bender's Tavern and the hi-dive are changing hands: After this weekend, Rockbar is going dark. Spurred by the city's recent decision not to renew Rockbar's liquor license, which expired at the end of Au ... More >>

Rockbar will close this weekend after a goodbye bash

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 All-Inn, the motel at 3015 East Colfax Avenue that he bought almost seven years ago. Earlier this month, Tom Downey, the dire ... More >>

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

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 >>

City denies Rockbar's liquor-license application renewal

Tom Downey, director of the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses, just issued his final decision regarding Rockbar's application to renew its liquor licenses for the hipster hangout on East Colfax. Downey's decision? No. And if that order stands, Rockbar will be high and dry within the month. ... 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 >>

City plans to extend deadline on First Avenue Hotel to October 31

Today was the original deadline for Jesse Morreale to make required repairs to the First Avenue Hotel in order to keep it open -- a deadline set by the Board of Appeals on July 30, twenty days after the city had slapped the building with a notice to vacate, resulting in both El Diablo and Sketch clo ... More >>

Jesse Morreale and the First Avenue Hotel have another date with the city

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 property - the circa 1906 building at 101 Broadway that holds Sketch and El Diablo, as well as Morreale's offices. And those meetings aren't over yet. Last ... 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

Mici Handcrafted Italian will open a third spot in Stapleton -- with wine, with any luck

"We're a family-owned Italian restaurant," says Kim Miceli-Vela, one of the family members behind Mici Handcrafted Italian. "We're extremely family-friendly. But you can't have an Italian restaurant without wine." And now, thanks to a new rule that Tom Downey, director of the Denver Department of ... More >>

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 >>

Statewide dispensary moratorium ends, new applications slow to come in

A statewide moratorium on new medical-marijuana businesses ended Sunday, but don't expect to see many new dispensaries popping up right away.

Medical Marijuana Workgroup's dull meeting highlighted by awarding of first MMC license

​The ambiguously-named Medical Marijuana Workgroup met yesterday, and although the point was to create transparency between state and city officials and the medical marijuana center owners, the results were more akin to a big back-patting session for everyone involved.

MMJ workgroup and city council committee meetings: License transfers on agenda?

Tom Downey.​The so-called Denver Medical Marijuana Workgroup meets today for the second time in two months. But despite its name, which has caused some confusion in the medical marijuana community, the group hasn't been charged with any actual work and isn't a regulatory committee in any way.

Medical marijuana: Denver almost ready for dispenary applications to begin.

The dispensary application process seems a lot like a visit to the DMV. You show up knowing that it's going to be a pain in the ass, go through line after line, each time praying it will be the last. Finally, you cut a check to someone in the hope that the state has enough of its act together to sen ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Workgroup either successful or incestuous, depending on whom you ask

Wednesday night's first meeting of the latest Medical Marijuana Workgroup at Denver's Wellington Webb building has generated mixed reviews. It was either a successful forum for lively debate or an incestuous assembly of business and government leaders who all stand to make a buck off the MMJ industr ... More >>

Medical marijuana: Office of Excise & Licensing tackles mountain of MMC applications

​The photo seen here isn't a screen capture from the last scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark. No, these boxes contain medical marijuana business applications that have been gathering dust up until now. And I was invited along to watch the first of them get brushed off.

Buffalo bull! Steve Friesen gets a visit from Pawn Stars

Medical marijuana: In Boulder, "moral turpitude" arrests = license rejections

​Is Boulder less liberal than Denver when it comes to medical marijuana licensing? Although MMJ business rejection rates suggest the answer is "yes," Boulder officials haven't done an analysis. However, the City of Boulder provided us with the background check form it uses in licensing, and i ... 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.

Wake-Up Call: Watch the fireworks...over the Senate nomination

Denver's fireworks display won't officially start until 9 p.m. December 31 (with a repeat performance at midnight), but there have already been plenty of explosive discussions over who, exactly, Governor Bill Ritter should nominate to fill Ken Salazar's soon-to-be-empty Senate seat -- and what cov ... More >>