Primebar calls it quits

National brand Restaurants America dropped Primebar into its massive space at 1515 Arapahoe Street back in May of 2009, using the former Palomino digs to turn out New American fare in lodge-inspired decor, animal heads and all. A year and a half later, the place has called it quits...

By Laura Shunk

December 29, 2010

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National brand Restaurants America dropped Primebar into its massive space at 1515 Arapahoe Street back in May of 2009, using the former Palomino digs to turn out New American fare in lodge-inspired decor, animal heads and all.

A year and a half later, the place has called it quits.

Primebar closed without fanfare, leaving the spot dark just a week before the end of the year. The restaurant was the first in an expanding national group of Primebar concepts; the other locations, in Florida, Illinois and Arizona, are still open.

This closing is somewhat convenient, since we were anticipating some name-related tension on the horizon: similarly named Ocean Prime is located just a couple of blocks away in Larimer Square, and that spot is slated to open on January 20.

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Laura Shunk was Westword's restaurant critic from 2010 to 2012; she's also been food editor at the Village Voice and a dining columnist in Beijing. Her toughest assignment had her drinking ten martinis and eating ten Caesar salads over the course of 48 hours. She still drinks martinis, but remains lukewarm on Caesar salads.

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