Restaurant Roll Call: Every Opening and Closing in February

A lot of the numbers being touted during debates over the controversial restaurant relief act would lead you to believe that we're in the middle of a restaurant apocalypse. And it's definitely true that restaurants are struggling for a variety of reasons — we hear stories every day about the challenges they are facing, including harassment by opponents of the restaurant relief act, which would change the rules for Colorado's tipped minimum wage.

But as the only local publication that closely tracks restaurant openings and closings on a weekly, monthly and annual basis — with a particular focus on independent restaurants — our reporting continues to show that openings are outpacing closures. Except in the last week of February,

We counted only two additions to the scene during that period — all outside of Denver. Deep Roots Winery, which moved out of RiNo in December, debuted its Golden location, and Hibachi V Express opened in the former Pierogies Factory space in Littleton. And Odde’s Music Grill in Westminster split into two businesses: Hester's Burgers & Brews and Odde’s “Liquor Pie” Lounge, a speakeasy in the back.

During the last week of February, we reported five closures (as well as the shutdown of eighteen Del Taco outposts, though the company says they will reopen). Among the losses are two decade-old restaurants downtown: Osaka Ramen in RiNo and Zoe Ma Ma next to Union Station.

Osaka Ramen owner Jeff Osaka cited "rising ingredient costs, an evolving economic landscape, and the mandated tip credit on top of a high minimum wage" as major factors in his decision to close.
Edwin Zoe, who also owns Dragonfly Noodle on the 16th Street Mall and a Zoe Ma Ma in Boulder, said the main factor in the closure of the Zoe Ma Ma near Union Station was the continued lack of office workers in the area, though he remains hopeful about the future of downtown and plans to maintain a presence there by offering delivery and catering services in the near future.

closed for good is Los Dos Potrillos Cocina y Cantina in Northglenn, which originally opened as a fast-casual offshoot of the still-expanding Los Dos Potrillos brand in 2023. Parent company Ramirez Hospitality Group CEO Daniel Ramirez tells Westword that the team quickly realized that "we're really good at full service. If we're going to get into fast casual, there are so many things I need to understand."

The location did try a switch to full service but hit several bottlenecks, including not having the capacity to make that model work. The group hopes to return to northern suburbs in the future but right now, it's focused on opening a new Los Dos Potrillos in the former Hacienda Colorado off I-25 at Colorado Boulevard that's expected to debut in April. 
There are two closures to report in Aurora. Seasoned Swine, which launched as a food truck in 2017 and also has a brick-and-mortar in Golden, closed its location on Montview Boulevard just over a year after taking over the former Plates by the Pound space. And regulars are also mourning the loss of a Aurora dive bar that just ended a 35-year run.

Sand Creek Lounge announced its February 28 closure online, adding this: "We have been privileged to support causes such as: Cops Fighting Cancer, Make a Wish Foundation, Breast Cancer, and our most successful events raising funds for a new handicapped vehicle for our Lyla Rohac, and cancer treatments for Paul Shields. ... You guys have no idea how much you all mean to us. And we promise you this isn’t the end."

Here's the complete list of restaurants and bars that opened and closed in February*:

click to enlarge

Maria Empanada on Colfax offers sweet and savory eats plus a full espresso coffee bar.

Maria Empanada

Openings

Baumé at Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop Street
Call Your Mother at Denver Central Market, 2669 Larimer Street
Deep Roots Winery, 1375 Catamount Drive, Golden
Elemental Bakery & Coffeehouse, 3875 Steele Street
God Save the Cream, 3296 South Washington Street, Englewood
Green Bus Cafe, 1225 17th Street
Hester's Burgers & Brews/Odde's "Liquor Pie" Lounge, 9975 Wadsworth Parkway M1, Westminster
Hibachi V Express, 7961B South Broadway, Littleton
Homegrown Tap & Dough, 19320 Cottonwood Drive, Parker
La Huacha, 16500 South Golden Road, Golden
Maíz and Good Vibes Cafe, 3900 Elati Street
Mama Jo's Biscuits & BBQ, 3525 East Colfax Avenue
Maria Empanada, 2730 East Colfax Avenue
Matteo's Crepes, 1575 Arapahoe Street
Mikaku Ramen & Temaki, 14302 East Cedar Avenue, Aurora
Novo Coffee, 1200 Clayton Street
Queen City Collective Coffee, 1899 Wynkoop Street
Sacred Society, 3410 West 38th Avenue
The Shambles Tavern, 3501 Delgany Street
Thick's Gelato and Chocolates, 3339 Downing Street
Thirteen20, 3455 Ringsby Court #105
Umai-Ya Sushi, 7450 West 52nd Avenue, Arvada
Uptown Banh Mi, 1201 East Colfax Avenue
Uni Sushi, 3982 Red Cedar Drive, Highlands Ranch

Temporary Closures

Del Taco, eighteen Colorado locations

Closures

Campfire, 840 Tabor Street, Lakewood, and 27883 Meadow Drive, Evergreen
Comal Heritage Food Incubator, 1950 35th Street
Dewey Beer, 3501 Delgany Street (transitioned to the Shambles)
Eat'Ya Pizza, 1530 16th Street
Grabowski's, 13795 West Jewell Avenue, Lakewood
GraceFull Community Cafe, 5610 South Curtice Street, Littleton
Inchin’s Bamboo Garden, 12073 East Arapahoe Road, Centennial
Lao Wang Noodle House, 945 South Federal Boulevard
Las Brisas, 6787 South Clinton Street, Englewood
Los Dos Potrillos Cocina y Cantina, 100 East 120th Avenue, Northglenn
Mangiami Pizza Tavern, 5614 Olde Wadsworth Boulevard, Arvada
Mordy's Corner, 701 South Monaco Street
Osaka Ramen, 2611 Walnut Street
The Regular, 1432 Market Street (now operating as an event venue)
Sand Creek Lounge, 16893 East Iliff Avenue, Aurora
Seasoned Swine, 11601 East Montview Boulevard, Aurora
Sloan's Lake Tap & Burger, 1565 Raleigh Street (set to become a location of Stoney's)
Voghera Apericena, 3963 Tennyson Street
Zoe Ma Ma, 1625 Wynkoop Street

*Or earlier and not previously reported.

Know of something we missed? Email [email protected].