Morton's The Steakhouse closes the Tech Center location

Late last year, Tilman J. Fertitta, the restaurant mogul who owns Landry's -- and acquired McCormick and Schmick's in a hostile takeover last month -- announced his plans to pick up the national chain of Morton's steakhouses, noting that the restaurants comprise "one of the most recognizable and successful high-end...

By Laura Shunk

February 1, 2012

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Late last year, Tilman J. Fertitta, the restaurant mogul who owns Landry's -- and acquired McCormick and Schmick's in a hostile takeover last month -- announced his plans to pick up the national chain of Morton's steakhouses, noting that the restaurants comprise "one of the most recognizable and successful high-end steak brands in the world." He'd refresh the company, he said, and add new items to the menu.

He'd also close some locations.

After the deal concluded, Fertitta moved quickly to begin implementing those changes. One location getting the axe? The Morton's in the Tech Center, which closed this morning.

Here's the official word from Kris Guthrie, the vice president of marketing at Landry's, on why that particular outlet is no more:

Morton's The Steakhouse is a fantastic, high end restaurant brand known throughout the world for their stellar service and spectacular steaks. Landry's is proud to have them join our portfolio. Having been in business for more than 30 years, Morton's operates domestically and internationally, with multiple locations in some cities. Over time, demographics shift and so do the areas in which businesses thrive and it's because of this that we must close the Morton's location in Denver Tech.

We will continue to operate Morton's The Steakhouse in Denver. We look forward to serving our guests at our location in LoDo on Wynkoop St.

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Laura Shunk was Westword's restaurant critic from 2010 to 2012; she's also been food editor at the Village Voice and a dining columnist in Beijing. Her toughest assignment had her drinking ten martinis and eating ten Caesar salads over the course of 48 hours. She still drinks martinis, but remains lukewarm on Caesar salads.

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