Financial Dilemma Makes Future of Mr. Lucky's Fine Sandwiches Uncertain

"It's been a long three or four weeks," says Galen Juracek, who took over Mr. Lucky's Fine Sandwiches at 711 East Sixth Avenue in Capitol Hill in 2017 and added an outpost at 3326 Tejon Street in LoHi two years later. Now, however, the future of both shops is uncertain.

"Without saying too much, it was a combination of trusting the wrong people with a line of credit at the wrong time," Juracek explains of a situation with a fraudulent lender that has left him short on operating capital.

He's looking into various options and meeting with his landlords to talk through possible solutions. "Maybe something comes through by the end of the year," he says. "But as the calendar turns, then we're heading into two months of slow season."

For now, he says, "I need a mental break."  So both shops will both be open for regular hours through Sunday, December 22, before closing at least until the start of 2025 — but there is a possibility that one (likely the Cap Hill outpost) or even both will never reopen.

It's a tough hit for Juracek, who put a lot of care into making improvements after purchasing the business. It's also tough for Denver diners, as Mr. Lucky's has been a Cap Hill mainstay for affordable sandwiches for more than two decades — its French dip is one of our favorites for a low-cost fix.
"I probably am with a lot of other people in saying that business has been all over the place this year, really up and down, but we are slightly ahead of the previous year. It's not necessarily a lack of business" that's led to this situation, Juracek notes. "But with the rising costs of everything else, you've got to put yourself into a position to get yourself through the slow season."

Juracek plans to reassess the situation during the break and is hoping to find a solution to keep the business going by January 1. In the meantime, fans should plan to visit this weekend for what could be a final taste of the sandwiches at Mr. Lucky's — Juracek could certainly use the support.