Reader: Bonnie Brae Tavern is eighty? That's a couple of centuries in restaurant years

In the rough-and-tumble restaurant world, staying in business for a decade is a major accomplishment -- and making it for eighty years, all in the same family? That's something to celebrate. Which Bonnie Brae Tavern will be doing all day today, as the Dire family marks the eightieth birthday of...

By Patricia Calhoun

June 6, 2014

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In the rough-and-tumble restaurant world, staying in business for a decade is a major accomplishment -- and making it for eighty years, all in the same family? That's something to celebrate. Which Bonnie Brae Tavern will be doing all day today, as the Dire family marks the eightieth birthday of their restaurant, which got its start when South University was still a dirt strip. See also: Bonnie Brae still kicking (and cooking at eighty!

Says Denver Dave:

WOW! Eighty years is like a couple of centuries in restaurant years. My first visits were in the early '70s. Congratulations to the Dire family. We don't get there as often anymore because our pizza and beer days are pretty much behind us (or should be) but every time we have been in we've been treated like old friends. Don't find that around much these days.

Although the Blue Parrot in Louisville is older, there may not be a spot more beloved than the Bonnie Brae Tavern. Have you been there lately? What's your favorite old-time restaurant in town?

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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