Upscale Cannabis Lounge Cleared to Open on Colfax

It's been a long journey for Cirrus Social Club, but the cannabis bar and social lounge has finally received the go-ahead to open from the City of Denver.

An upscale venue with a license for cannabis sales and consumption, Cirrus began taking shape over two years ago on East Colfax Avenue. The building, a former tae kwon do studio, has undergone a $3 million renovation, according to founder Arend Richard.

Richard has been sharing plans and creating a membership base as Cirrus developed, with a waitlist of reportedly thousands of people wanting to enter the new space. According to its website, Cirrus has a "breathtakingly gorgeous environment" where visitors ages 21-and-up can enjoy "carefully selected sesh offerings," "elevated munchies" and "Flight Attendants guiding you on your journey."

“Cirrus Social Club isn’t just a lounge — it’s a movement. We’re redefining what a night out can look like by creating a warm, welcoming and unforgettable experience where cannabis is celebrated, elevated and accessible to all — a new standard for cannabis culture," Richard says in a statement.

Pictures shared by Cirrus on social media show a colorful and luxurious layout, with chandeliers, elaborate floral arrangements and a Steinway & Sons piano, something Richard has been teasing since announcing his vision.

A grand opening is scheduled for Friday, April 18. According to Cirrus, tables are booked through 4/20 weekend, but you can sign up on the waitlist if you're interested in securing a reservation for the future.

Smoking, vaping and edibles will be allowed at Cirrus, although there may be rules and restrictions for certain forms of consumption. Because Cirrus offers cannabis sales, guests cannot drink alcohol or bring any outside cannabis into the venue. A menu hasn't been shared yet, but Cirrus currently lists cannabis brands such as Green Dot Labs and Meraki cultivations, Wana edibles, G Pen vaporizers and Stündenglass gravity pieces as "partners."

Richard first announced his team's plans in 2022 after securing the building at 3200 East Colfax. Preliminary plans for a bring-your-own-cannabis lounge were approved by the city licensing department in 2023; Cirrus later added a sales permit, as well.

"Our goal is to get millennials, Gen Xers and tourists in Denver who enjoy spending their money on experiences over things, which is an overwhelming majority in those groups of people since the pandemic. We want to be the place to be on a Friday night if you enjoy cannabis. During the day, it's high tea, and during the evening, it's a little more romantic, with a date-night vibe," he told Westword in 2023.

As Denver's short list of cannabis-friendly venues have shown over the years, the path between preliminary approval and having the license in hand can be long. On top of gutting and remodeling the building, Cirrus had to pass Denver building and cannabis hospitality inspections, which include strict security and indoor ventilation requirements, ADA and fire compliance, and more.

At times, Cirrus had hoped to open in 2023 and 2024, but the first grand opening was scheduled for March 7 of this year. That date was then moved back again while Cirrus finished attaining a sewer and drain usage permit, according to Denver Excise & Licenses. All of Cirrus's inspections have now been completed, though, with Excise & Licenses officially issuing the venue's cannabis consumption permit today, April 11.