Courtesy RHG
Audio By Carbonatix
Riot House was ready to raise the roof when it opened on New Year’s Eve 2023. Making its home in the former The Real World: Denver house at 1920 Market Street, Riot House was a project of the Riot Hospitality Group and the Monfort Companies, which had opened Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row at 1946 Market Street on New Year’s Eve 2021.
“This is really part of our investment in Denver and how much we believe in Denver and what we want to do in Denver,” Lissa Druss, who leads RHG’s government relations, industry relations and external communications for its thirteen locations across four states, told us ahead of the Riot House opening. “This is not by accident – this is a long-term plan for us.”
But as the saying goes: We make plans, and God laughs. That long-term plan ended in early December when Denver’s Riot House issued its final last call, blaming the closure on “ongoing market challenges.” And apparently not just in this market: The sole remaining Riot House is in Scottsdale, Arizona; RHG is based in that state.
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And the closing of Riot House isn’t the only development on the 1900 block of Market. Kenneth Monfort, who founded Monfort Companies and was serving as executive VP when Riot House opened, was just named CEO of the company, which had parted ways with RHG two years ago, shortly after selling the Dierks Bentley’s property to another investor/operator.
“This next chapter is about building on a strong foundation while positioning Monfort Companies for long-term growth,” Kenneth Monfort said in an announcement of the move. “Stepping into the CEO role means taking full responsibility for where we go next — how we invest, how we operate and how we show up in the communities we care about most. Downtown Denver remains a priority for us, and we’re committed to continuing to build projects that contribute to its long-term strength and vitality.”
That’s despite the fact that Monfort couldn’t come to terms with the Downtown Development Authority on its request for $4.2 million in funding for one of those projects — a redo of the corner of 20th and Market. That development, which will merge the former home of the Giggling Grizzly with what’s left of El Chapultepec, the legendary jazz club that closed five years ago, just days before Dierks Bentley’s opened, had previously hit a wall with Historic Denver. But the company worked with the organization to agree on a new plan, which preserved an exterior wall of the venue.
Now the project has been scaled back, although the wall remains. “Monfort remains fully committed to the future of 1962 Market and 1320 20th,” according to Kenneth Monfort. “Located in a historic and well-positioned area adjacent to Coors Field and embedded within the historic fabric of LoDo, these buildings offer incredible potential to contribute to a dynamic, balanced district. As the market has evolved, so has our vision for how these properties can best serve the neighborhood. The concept for 1962 Market will center on a daytime-forward destination designed to support a more diverse and sustainable flow of activity in this high-value area.”
Just don’t expect another big New Year’s Eve opening on December 31, 2025.
