Casey Wilson
Audio By Carbonatix
Doing good never tasted so good.
If you had a January 30 reservation at Sap Sua, the buzzy Vietnamese restaurant that was named one of America’s fifty best new restaurants by Esquire in 2023, take note: The place will be closed, and the doors at 2550 East Colfax Avenue locked today, but you won’t go hungry.
Sap Sua was one of the first businesses locally to announce that it was joining the January 30 National General Strike, to protest ICE and the actions of the Trump administration. “It has been increasingly difficult to watch what is unfolding in our country,” Sap Sua announced on January 28 on Instagram. “We have felt so helpless and alone and it’s abundantly clear that no one will come to save us, so it is our civic duty to unite as a community in support of the most vulnerable. We understand how difficult of a position it is to be in as a small business owner, yet we fear that this may be the only way: Choosing to withhold our spending power to enact real change.”
Now, over twenty other hospitality businesses have opted to close their doors in solidarity, and many more are remaining open but making donations to a variety nonprofit organizations locally, nationally and in Minneapolis.
Jump to the list of all hospitality businesses closing or donating on January 30.
As a first-generation Asian American, Ni Nguyen takes his civic duty very seriously…and the small business he founded with his wife, Anna, will be taking a major financial hit for those principles — a harder hit than just cancelling a night of business.
As the couple explains, anyone who had a January 30 reservation is being contacted to arrange another date for dinner at Sap Sua…when their meal will be comped. And anyone who made a reservation who’s visiting Denver and can’t make a different day? Sap Sua (likely Anna, since only she and Ni will be working on January 30) will drop off a free dinner.
“We want to make sure that our activism is inclusive for everyone from our staff to our guests,” Ni says. “We want to make sure everyone is taken care of. We want to take care of the community.”
Chris Marhevka
The extra work and expenses are a small price to pay for taking a stand, he adds. They’re making an investment in persuading others to take action. “To see restaurants like ours take a financial hit, people need to see that can be done,” Ni says. “We hope that inspires other restaurants to take action.”
And not just other restaurants. Sap Sua would have served 130 to 140 covers on January 30, and “maybe this will inspire 100 of our guests to do something in the same vein, maybe not as big a gesture, but a gesture they can do,” Ni adds.
So now he and Anna and the staff are busy contacting those with reservations — some made a month in advance, since tables at Sap Sua are still very much in demand — to arrange replacement dates or meal deliveries. And to deliver a message, sent in an email from Anna: “The goal of a general strike is to pause the economy, and limit the flow of tax dollars, which fund ICE. This hits close to home for us. As restaurateurs, it is our responsibility to protect and advocate for the people we employ — people we care so deeply about. It is also our responsibility, as a pillar in our community, to stand up for what is right, and to set an example. “
Because as Ni notes, this will not be over on January 30. “They should prepare for the next strike,” he advises. “That is the purpose of why we want to participate this time.”
As for staff, Anna sent an email offering the following advice: “1) take the day off, and enjoy some time at home. 2) If you are concerned about missing the hours, get with me, and we can make them up anytime. 3) So you all know, Ni and I are contributing a Friday night’s amount of tip funds to the pool, so this won’t affect you in that way. You will just be missing the hourly rate.”
The notes concludes with this: “Please come to me with any questions! I am here for you all, and happy to answer/explain anything.”
On its Instagram message, Sap Sua offers suggestions for how people who can’t close their businesses can participate, since “we all play a part in the revolution.” They can donate a portion of the day’s proceeds to an immigrant rights organization, or allow employees to strike, or bring amenities to the community.
And Ni has one last suggestion, an act the Nguyens are making very easy for a reservation book full of diners: “Joy is an act of resistance.”
Viva the revolution.
Outside Pizza
Other local hospitality businesses participating in ICE Out on January 30
Editor’s note: These lists are not comprehensive as this movement has grown very quickly over the past two days. We encourage readers to check the social media pages of their favorite restaurants, bars and cafes for the latest information.
Closed for the day:
- Banh & Butter, 9935 East Colfax Avenue, Aurora
- Bar Max, 2412 East Colfax Avenue
- City, O’ City, 206 East 13th Avenue: In addition to closing on January 30, this Cap Hill staple is “hoping to help make Saturday’s protest at the Capitol as big as possible,” and will be offering free handheld barbacoa burritos to protesters “as a thank you and a way to further our support of the community.”
- Chivis Tacos, 2101 East Colfax Avenue
- Congress Park Market, 2620 East 12th Avenue: closed and giving employees a paid day off
- Die Die Must Try Beverage Co., 250 Steele Street
- Good Bones, 1201 East Colfax Avenue (which will continue to sell its Fuck ICE latte before and after the strike)
- Hudson Hill, 619 East 13th Avenue
- Jade Cafe, 5600 West Dartmouth Avenue
- MiddleState Coffee, 212 Santa Fe Drive and 2622 West 32nd Avenue
- Mukja Food Truck
- Outside Pizza, 3257 Lowell Boulevard
- Port Side, 2500 Larimer Street
- Sap Sua, 2550 East Colfax Avenue
- Second Dawn Brewing Company and Mishap Coffee, 2302 Dayton Street, Aurora
- Sonny’s Mediterranean, 2622 West 32nd Avenue
- St. Paul Tavern, 3111 East Colfax Avenue
- Town Hall Collaborative, 525 Santa Fe Drive, closing at 4 p.m.
- TrashHawk Tavern, 1539 South Broadway
- Watercourse Foods, 837 East 17th Avenue
- The Weathervane Cafe, 1725 East 17th Avenue: While it will be closed, the Uptown cafe’s staff will be outside from 8 to 10 a.m. serving free coffee and pastries while supplies “so we can still be together in community,” it says.
- The Wild, 1660 Wynkoop Street
Open but making donations to local and national organizations:
- Bon Vin, 3828 West 23rd Avenue: The wine shop is donating 10 percent of profits from its Friday tasting (4:30 to 7 p.m.) to Casa de Paz.
- Champagne Tiger, 601 East Colfax Avenue: Donating 20 percent of all sales to the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network and offering free hot coffee to anyone out protesting or avoiding making purchases.
- The Greenwich, 3258 Larimer Street: The RiNo restaurant will match the day’s sales on January 30 with a donation to “local organizations standing against the chaos unfolding in our country.”
- Hearth (RiNo, Uptown, Highland, Littleton): Donating $1 from every pastry sold on January 30 to the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network.
- Huckleberry Roasters, multiple locations: From January 30 through February 1, 10 percent of shop sales will be donated to the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network.
- Lady Justice Brewing, 3242 South Acoma Street, Englewood: Open from noon to 10 p.m.; 20 percent of all sales will be donated to the Immigrant Freedom Fund; check out its Instagram post for more details.
- MAKfam, 39 West First Avenue: This Chinese eatery is donating 30 percent of the entire day’s proceeds to Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network and Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition.
- Mamas and Papas Hospitality (Redeemer Pizza, Johnny Bechamel’s, Dio Mio Pasta): Starting January 30 and throughout the month of February, all three restaurants will be donating all proceeds from two featured cocktails to the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition and Casa de Paz.
- Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails, 3333 East Colfax Avenue: Donating 25 percent of sales on January 30 to the Immigrant Defense Project.
- Odie B’s RiNo, 1350 40th Street: Open for burger night and donating 30 percent of all proceeds to Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network.
- Roostercat Coffee House, 1045 Lincoln Street: Show up from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help the cafe make signs and buttons in protest of ICE. Sign makers will get free drip coffee. “Some supplies will be provided, but we encourage bringing your own so we can be as productive as possible,” it says, adding that it’s also taking suggestions for organizations to donate to.
- Tessa Deli, 5724 East Colfax Avenue: Cheeseburgers and pasta will be half off from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 20 percent of sales will be donated to Casa de Paz.
- Wanderment Brewing, 800 East 64th Avenue: Donating $1 from select pints (look for the “No Ice” symbol on the menu) to the National Immigrant Justice Center. The brewery is also releasing a hazy IPA on February 7 dubbed No ICE in my Beer.
Open but making donations to Minneapolis:
- Lucy’s Burger Bar, 4018 Tennyson Street: “Lucy’s Burger Bar stands with Minneapolis, the city that borned the Juicy Lucy and my hometown that I love so much,” says owner Michelle “Meesh” McGlone. “On Friday, January 30 Lucy’s will donate 50 percent of all sales to charitable organizations in Minneapolis. We see you MN. What an amazing example of courage and strength.”
- Yacht Club, Rougarou and Peach Crease Club: These bars have banded together to support Minneapolis on January 30. “In solidarity with the general strike [on January 30] and in response to the murders of Renee Nicole Good & Alex Pretti, The Peach Crease Club, Yacht Club, and Rougarou will be donating a percentage of our profits to a Minneapolis bar in need,” the group shares in a statement posted to social media. “Our industry is built, fueled, sustained, and made infinitely better by immigrants. We stand with our friends and colleagues across the country who have made the difficult decision to cease operations on Friday, a notoriously busy day for the industry. We are proud to be donating a percentage of profits, including merch sales, from each of our locations to @rainbowchinese in Minneapolis. Everyone is encouraged to donate to a cause that resonates with them via @standwithminnesota , where you can find a variety of mutual aid funds listed or you can donate directly to Stand With Minnesota.”
