New Concept Opening in Former Blake Street Tavern

Since iconic sports bar Blake Street Tavern closed in April 2023, the cavernous space at 2301 Blake Street has been empty. But that will change this spring, when a new sports and entertainment bar moves in.

Harper and Hudson Hospitality Group, which operates the Tavern Snowmass in the Aspen Valley, plans to open Tavern on Blake Street by Rockies Opening Day on April 4. Jeff and Ashley Moerke run Harper and Hudson, which is named after their two children.

The couple also own an apparel brand called Harper + Hudson, an affordable restaurant concept called Aspen Country Food and Beverage, and an Italian restaurant named Il Poggio in Snowmass Village. But the Blake Street Tavern had always been close to Ashley’s heart, as she worked there a decade ago. And when the Moerkes heard that Blake Street Tavern owner Chris Fuselier was planning to close the place, they offered to buy it.

For a variety of reasons, Fuselier wasn’t interested in selling, Jeff says, so the Moerkes had to wait a while to “reunite the nostalgia” of Blake Street. “Everybody that I know in Denver has some type of great story and moment of being in there,” he adds.

Jeff and Ashley have already rehired former managers, bartenders and security guards who used to work at Blake Street Tavern, and are still hiring more people. “I reached out to a few people to see if they were interested in working and managing at the place," Jeff recalls, "and they were literally like, ‘Oh, my god, we didn't want to leave. We've loved this place. Our fibers are in this building.’”

The Moerkes plan to continue living in Aspen and trusting their staff to handle day-to-day operations; that’s their business philosophy, Jeff says. The pair are also opening a Tavern concept in Las Vegas, with a projected opening in November 2025.

Jeff grew up in Arvada and made his money in credit-card processing for CBD and cannabis, working with the State of Colorado to help collect taxes from those businesses at the time cannabis first became legal. Later, he returned to banking and then found his way back to the state during the beginning of the pandemic to supply PPE for hospitals in Colorado.

But the intensity of that work took a toll. "My mental health was down, my children were learning school from a computer,” he says. “I was like, ‘Let's go to the mountains. Let's go to a small town, fresh air.’ The kids can run around.”

He wanted his children to have access to nature and a slower pace of life, and the couple found it in Aspen. They quickly established business roots there, starting with Ashley’s apparel company and then adding their restaurant and bar projects. The success of the Tavern Snowmass since it opened in 2023 made the pair realize they could expand that idea to other markets.

The concept for the Tavern on Blake Street will be very similar to that of the Aspen spot, Jeff says. That bar is known for large nacho platters and high-quality chicken wings, with a wing Wednesday special. It often hosts live music, karaoke and trivia nights for slow times over the summer and in the evenings during ski season.

“If you want to come in and spend a lot of money with me, I have Dom Pérignon and tomahawk steaks and seafood towers," he says, "but if you want to come in and dine on a budget, I got burgers, chicken wings, happy hour, nachos the size of your entire face. I can get you full and drunk for 25 bucks.”

The same will be true in Denver, Jeff says, where the many TVs will be showing sports constantly, and big sporting events like UFC fights will have dedicated watch parties. The basement of the building, which held arcade games in its previous iteration, will be more music and DJ-focused.

Before the official opening, the Tavern on Blake Street will host a “keg and egg” pop-up for St. Patrick’s Day in partnership with a local nonprofit. There will be two official grand opening events, one on April 4 for Opening Day that will be a “rowdy party,” and another a week later that will have a more red-carpet vibe.

Either way, Jeff says, everyone will be welcome at the Tavern on Blake Street.

“When you walk in our front doors, we're going to make you happy. We're going to melt away your stresses of the day,” he promises. “You're going to meet people who are going to become your friends.”

Tavern on Blake Street is slated to open April 4, 2301 Blake Street; find out more at taverndenver.com.