Restaurant Roll Call: Every Opening and Closing in March

As we awaited some exciting spring openings, March brought plenty of action to the local dining — and beer — scenes. We reported fourteen closures last month, along with 21 additions.

Among them are two brand-new breweries — a hopeful sign for a market that's been struggling. While beer fans took some hits with the closures of Blue Moon's RiNo brewpub and Halfpenny in Centennial, both Full Frame Beer and Littleton Brewing Company made strong debuts. March also brought the comeback of Fiction Beer Company on East Colfax under new owners, while the former Fiction outpost in Parker has been rebranded as Bodega Beer Company and will continue under separate ownership.

As has been the trend recently, many of the openings in March were new locations of existing concepts. Among them is Olive & Finch, which now has an outpost at Union Station; Colfax and Cream, which opened a third spot in Wash Park; old-school favorite the Bagel Deli, now flying high at Denver International Airport;  Kickin Chicken, with a new Aurora location; and Nana's Dim Sum, which is up to four locations and counting.

Another trend: Some longtime favorites are among the closures, including Gennaro's Bar and Lounge, in business since 1951, and the storied Mercury Cafe, though its spirit will live on under new owners as the Pearl.

Two spots staved off closures in March, thanks to community support: Tennyson diner Wendell's and Colfax Italian eatery Benzina. Though they both need continued support to survive for the long haul, their reprieves are a reminder that visiting the places you love regularly really can make a difference.

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

Openings

7 Brew, 13792 East Mississippi Avenue, Aurora
Alteño, 249 Clayton Street
The Bagel Deli & Restaurant, Denver International Airport, Concourse A
Bodega Beer Company, 19523 Hess Road, Parker (Fiction Beer rebrand)
C Burger, 921 Pearl Street, Boulder
Colfax and Cream, 712 1/2 South Pearl Street
The Counter at Odell's, 3200 Irving Street
Fiction Beer Company, 7101 East Colfax Avenue (reopened under new owners)
Full Frame Beer, 1139 20th Street
Garlic Naan, 1706 South Chambers Road, Aurora
Kickin Chicken, 13650 East Colfax Avenue, Aurora
La Loma, 1601 19th Street (rebrand of Caldero)
Larimer Liquors, 3122 Larimer Street
Littleton Brewing Company, 1201 West Littleton Boulevard, Littleton
Mango Tree Coffee, 5624 South Prince Street, Littleton
Moonflower Coffee, 4200 West Colfax Avenue
Nana’s Dim Sum & Dumplings, 2005 Clinton Street, Aurora
Olive & Finch at Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop Street
Ochag Bar & Grill, 2627 South Parker Road, Aurora
Stoney’s Sloan’s Lake, 1565 Raleigh Street
TropiTai Delights, 98 Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood

click to enlarge

No matter what Gennaro's might become, the building's owner says its sign will stay.

Molly Martin

Closures

Agave Taco Bar, 2217 East Mississippi Avenue
AJ's Pit Bar-B-Q, 2180 South Delaware Street
Bar Louie, 7111 West Alaska Drive, Lakewood
Blue Moon Brewing Company RiNo, 3750 Chestnut Place
Dochi, 2449 Larimer Street
Gennaro's Bar and Lounge, 2598 South Broadway
Gypsy House Cafe, 1545 South Broadway
Halfpenny Brewing Company, 5150 East Arapahoe Road, Centennial
Mellow Mushroom, 1201 16th Street
Mercury Cafe, 2199 California Street (now The Pearl)
Sushi Ronin, 2930 Umatilla Street
Uncle Julio's - Hacienda Colorado, 3298 Youngfield Street, Wheat Ridge
W.T. Shorty's, 990 South Oneida Street
Wash Park Grille, 1096 South Gaylord Street

*Or earlier and not previously reported.

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