Every Opening and Closing This Week: Farewell to Blue Moon, the Merc and More

As March comes to a close, more local places to eat and drink are shutting their doors for good — though one will live on under new owners with a new name.

Mercury Cafe has a long and storied history that dates back to 1975; Marilyn Megenity founded the Merc's forerunner fifty years ago in Indian Hills, then moved through several locations and names before landing at 2199 California Street. A team led by Danny Newman bought the Merc from Megenity in 2021, but had a rough time running and leased the place to the proprietors of Pearl Diver, who promise to keep the spirit of the space as it becomes the Pearl in April. In the meantime, there will be events through the weekend.

Nearby in RiNo, the only Colorado outpost of Florida-born mochi doughnut shop Dochi has shuttered after nearly four years in business. And Blue Moon is hosting a sold-out farewell party on Saturday, March 28, after announcing its plans to close earlier this month.

Decade-old Halfpenny Brewing Company in Centennial will also throw a goodbye shindig on Saturday, March 28. "As you may know, our lease is up shortly and we have made the difficult decision to close the taproom so that we can focus on selling the equipment and getting everything wrapped up," it shared in a social media post.

Also closed: the co-branded Uncle Julio's - Hacienda Colorado in Wheat Ridge. Hacienda Colorado was founded locally but the chain has continued to shrink since being acquired by Texas-based Uncle Julio's in 2019.
This week's openings include two rebrands and one comeback. While the Fiction Beer Company on East Colfax has been revived under new owners after shutting its doors in December, the Parker outpost is now Bodega Beer Company.

The former Caldero in McGregor Square is now a location of La Loma. A judge approved the name change as part of a messy divorce settlement between William and Renee Brinkerhoff; she got this spot as well as two more still-under-construction La Loma spots.

We love the customizable drinks at Colfax and Cream, Now, you can get a taste at its third location near Wash Park.

There's also a new spot serving Russian fare in Aurora: Ochag Bar & Grill has opened in the former Hideaway Lounge.

In other openings and closings news:

• The owners of Safta are opening an Italian lounge inside the Source Hotel.
• Fine dining restaurant the Regular closed last month and is now an event venue that will host monthly guest chef dinners; the first is Sunday, March 30.
• After originally announcing that it would close this month, Benzina has pushed that date back to May 3 with hopes of possibly staying open for good.

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

Openings

Bodega Beer Company, 19523 Hess Road, Parker (Fiction Beer rebrand)
Colfax and Cream, 712 1/2 South Pearl Street
Fiction Beer Company, 7101 East Colfax Avenue (reopened under new owners)
La Loma, 1601 19th Street (rebrand of Caldero)
Ochag Bar & Grill, 2627 South Parker Road, Aurora

Closures

Blue Moon Brewing Company RiNo, 3750 Chestnut Place
Dochi, 2449 Larimer Street
Halfpenny Brewing Company, 5150 East Arapahoe Road, Centennial
Mercury Cafe, 2199 California Street (will be the Pearl April 1)
Uncle Julio's - Hacienda Colorado, 3298 Youngfield Street, Wheat Ridge

*Or earlier and not previously reported.

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