He's run the eatery in the historic Livestock Exchange Building for over twenty years, ever since a regular at his Willy's Wings in Evergreen suggested that they buy the longtime watering hole that had been dark for a year, after decades of business as the Stockyards Inn, Doc's (where a Westword Christmas party almost set the place on fire), the Old West Tavern and other venues lost to time. That fall, they did just that and reopened the bar, but the partner was out by January when Maus started working the sixteen-hour days that came with owning the only independent bar on the National Western campus during the Stock Show.
The bar is in the newest (1919!) building in a group of three structures that make up the historic Livestock Exchange, which the city had purchased for $11.5 million five years ago as construction of the massive new National Western Center got underway. Denver sold it in 2020 to a partnership that includes EXDO Development, Elevation Development Group, the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, and the nonprofit National Western Center Authority. With new owners, Maus knew that change was probably coming; last year, he even posted a sign that his business was for sale.
Mause didn't sell it, though, and in April — a year before his lease was up — he heard from those new owners, who said they wanted to discuss plans for the building's renovation, plans that included closing the bar building for at least a year while the work was done. "You're just going to fuck with us like that?" Maus remembers saying. "There's no reason to close us down." Instead, he says he suggested that the bar could stay in business through the project, perhaps by keeping the downstairs room that serves as the Yard Bar during the Stock Show open year-round instead.
But there were no compromises. "It became clear to me they didn't want me here," he recalls. "And I've been here 24 years." That's when he suggested the owners buy him out, taking on the name and liquor license. But last fall, while he kept the lights on in the bar, the owners went dark. "They're forcing me out of business," he says.
So Maus put up signs outside the building to warn customers that the place would be closing, then pasted a lengthy notice on Facebook on New Year's Day. "It is with Great Sadness Denver Stockyard Saloon will be Closing PERMANENTLY April 2025," it began, then went on with a lengthy, randomly capitalized account that ended with this: "Our entire family and friends have helped out over the past 25 years to make the Denver Stockyard Saloon 'The Yard Bar' what it is today. A gathering place for family and friends from all over the world to reminisce, share stories of the past, present and future, How much things have changed, Some Good, Some Bad, conduct business and love one another. A buy out would at least keep the Ambience alive as well as other aspects of the business if they Chose our Recipe. We were strung along for a few months saying they put together an offer of what they see as Value and would send it over. It Never happened and He hasn't responded to Phone calls or text since October, So I guess their plans changed. Anyway We just Wanted to Share what's going on since we have had a lot People reach out individually and share the Answers to the questions. We Will let Everyone know of Our New location soon. Thanks for all of your Love and Support Over the past 25yrs."
The Livestock Exchange complex in 2020, when the city purchased it.
denver.gov
“My great-grand-uncle, who ran the grocer's union and became a state senator in Colorado in the early 1900s, used to office in that building,” Feinstein recalls. And EXDO has been involved in the area around the complex since long before it became known as RiNo.
"As a fellow bar owner, I am incredibly sympathetic," he says of Maus's plight, "but he signed a lease with the City of Denver; he agreed to that lease. It has to be shut down for at least a year." That's because of the maintenance backlog that plagues the entire complex. While the timeline for repairing the middle building, the oldest of the three (1898) that was badly damaged by fire decades ago, remains uncertain, renovation plans are definitely underway for this one.
"I don't know what form it's going to be in, but it will still be a saloon," Feinstein says of the space. "We can't always accommodate everyone."
But until the Stock Show ends, Maus intends to do just that, keeping the doors open until 2 a.m. each day, and reminding everyone of how the West was fun.
Denver Stockyard Saloon, 4710 National Western Drive, will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. through January 26; hours will change after that. Find more info here.
