Every Opening and Closing This Week: Deep Roots Winery Moves Out of RiNo and More

In October, Infinite Monkey Theorem announced that it was shutting down its RiNo winery and tasting room on December 31. "It's been a tough time for the industry," current president and CEO Nicki McTague told Westword at the time. "Zero-alcohol beverages have seen the most growth, and wine sales have been drastically decreasing."

Last month, Ironton Distillery had similar news; its last day in RiNo is Saturday, December 21, though it plans to open a new facility in Louisville.

Also out in RiNo: Deep Roots Winery, which, like Ironton, isn't shutting down for good but rather moving to Golden. “While we’ve loved being a part of the Denver community for the past seven years, the rising costs of doing business in the city have made it increasingly difficult to operate as a small, family-owned business,” founder and owner Steve Walters says in an announcement of the news. “Relocating to Golden not only allows us to continue crafting exceptional wines but also provides us with an opportunity to connect with our customers. By stepping away from the food industry, we intend to focus our expertise not only on our wines but on expanding our Hard Lemonade Wines and Hard Apple Ciders.”

The winery's last day in RiNo was December 15; it's aiming to open its new location in late January.

We reported two closures outside of RiNo this week as well. In April, food truck Original by Greeks moved into a South Broadway brick-and-mortar with a drive-thru that was once a Taco Bell; now that building is again vacant and available for lease.
The city also lost its oldest queer cabaret bar when Boyztown shuttered suddenly. Though it's unclear why Boyztown closed, it's a clear loss for a stretch of Broadway that is grappling with how to keep businesses afloat this year amid a rise in crime and rent.

Among the new additions is the latest Denver International Airport restaurant with local ties: Sunset Loop Bar & Grill, on Concourse B. The private chef for the Nuggets, Daniel Young (aka Chef D), is behind the concept, which is serving "a Denver-inspired menu focused on local sourcing and nutritious meals, to elevate the airport dining experience," according to a press release.

Also now serving are bread bakery and coffee shop the Baking Room in Aurora. According to owner Eric Theil, it specializes in slow-fermented, hearth-baked breads and coffee from Jubilee Roasters. In Littleton. Manning's Steaks & Spirits has debuted a second location in the space that was the longtime home of the Boardroom and was most recently the (very badly named) Dirty Pit Craft House.

Another longtime staple, Rosemary Cafe, left a hole in Harvey Park when it shut down in 2022. The building reopened in February when Jelly Cafe founder Josh Epps opened Harvey Park Grille, but it closed just four months later. Now it's home to Com Nhà Kitchen and Bar, which serves Vietnamese street food.

While RiNo took some big hits this week, there's a new addition in that neighborhood: Bondit's, a food-focused concept from the owner of popular ice cream shop Right Cream. It's located inside Millers & Rossi, and hours are limited for now: 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday as well as 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday for brunch. Menu highlights include loaded Caesar fries, orange chicken nuggets and a steak burger.

More closures are on the horizon; visit these spots before they're gone!

• Señor Burritos is leaving its original location in Baker after December 23.
• Taco House on South Federal is closing after 66 years in business; its last day is December 31.
• The year will end with another brewery closure as Fiction Beer says goodbye on New Year's Eve.
• Chef Alex Seidel's first restaurant, the eighteen-year-old Fruition, will serve its last meal on January 12.

Here's the complete list of restaurants and bars that opened and closed this week*:

Opening

The Baking Room, 11690 East Montview Boulevard, Aurora
Bondit's at Millers & Rossi, 3542 Walnut Street
Com Nhà Kitchen and Bar, 2133 South Sheridan Boulevard
Manning's Steaks & Spirits, 51 West Dry Creek Court, Littleton

Now open at DIA: Sunset Loop Bar & Grill and Starbucks on Concourse B

Closing

Boyztown, 117 Broadway
Deep Roots Winery, 2875 Blake Street
Ironton Distillery, 3636 Chestnut Place
Original by Greeks, 2300 South Broadway

*Or earlier and not previously reported.

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