Reader: Add Cap City to the Depressing List of My Old Hangouts Closing

Cap City Tavern, which is closing tonight, rated Mayor Mike Johnston's State of the City speech.

July 27, 2025

Cap City will have its final last call at 8 p.m. July 27. Cap City Tavern Facebook

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You can soon add another favorite watering hole to the list of bygone bars. For eighteen years, Cap City Tavern was a favorite hang not just for residents of the Golden Triangle, but workers at City Hall — including Mayor Mike Johnston, who mentioned that the place was closing in his State of the City speech on July 21.

But the McTaggarts, who own Cap City Tavern, didn't sound like big fans of Denver government in their social media post announcing the impending closure: "The increase in minimum wage, cost of food, and the taxes and fees that the city of Denver is imposing on restaurants has become too much to bear. Sadly, we are not alone, as the community of independently owned restaurants in Denver is literally going extinct."

In their comments on the Westword Facebook page and Instagram, readers poured out thoughts about the state of this city's independent businesses, as well as memories of this specific spot. Recalls krusso:

Dang, watched the Nuggets win the championship here.

Adds John:

I know the place well. Made many friends there.

Notes gimbybeg:

The family is actually right. When I moved here 25 years ago, we had 1000s of family-owned businesses in Denver. Now it's flipped. The pandemic and the poor decisions made by the last administration caused millions of small businesses to die and millions of jobs lost. Many never recovered from the pandemic. We unfortunately lost many amazing businesses.

Responds mobb_7:

Denver is gonna be a chain city when it’s all said and done.

Comments thecatevans:

Another one bites the dust… I think these businesses should get their money back; they should hit the city for hiking real estate outselling to states like New York and North Carolina and killing the heart of the city. This is like if someone designed something they had no business designing and then robbed everyone to the bone.

Offers dburn:

Just add it to the list of my old hangouts: Benny’s, Gov’s Park, Park Tavern, Cheeky Monk, Falling Rock. Man, this is depressing.

Responds jburn:

Sad! Should we all buy it?

Concludes Doug:

"…not enough of their customers have returned post-COVID" — curious about the negative Colorado economic impact from all the other states legalizing marijuana (job losses, less tourism, real estate slowing, CO2 gas sales, security, etc.).

Reader since 1980 when I contributed to the Californication of Colorado. Thank you for all your years of excellent, dedicated hard work.

Cap City will issue last call at 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 27. What do you think about the spot closing? The state of independent bars and restaurants in Denver? Post a comment or share your thoughts at [email protected].

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