Rougarou Opening Today in Five Points "a Little Bit Swampy, a Little Bit Rock and Roll"

The first light-rail line ran through Five Points; that move three decades ago was supposed to spark a renaissance of what was once known as the Harlem of the West. But the promised resurrection of the historic area has been slow, and last year leaders in the Five Points Business Improvement District suggested the line be removed, worried that it's blocking potential projects.

But now one spot is back on track: Rougarou will open today at 2844 Welton Street.

A dozen years ago, two Colorado restaurateurs decided to locate their first Denver project on Welton Street. Dunbar Kitchen and Tap House took over the 125-year-old house and sixty-year-old storefront that had been the home to Dunbar Barber Shop. "We love being in a place that has history," co-founder Charles Wessels told Westword when Dunbar opened in late 2014. "It would have been the best use of our resources to tear it down, but it's Five Points. There is too much history to do that."
But in 2020, Dunbar itself was history. Its space was soon taken over by Moods, Beats and Potions, one of the controversial Flyfishers Group's two restaurants; that venture closed in 2022.

Now the historic space will start pouring again as Rougarou, a wine and cocktail-focused restaurant described as "a little bit swampy and a little bit rock-and-roll." It was created by Mary Allison Wright and McLain Hedges, the owners of Denver's award-winning Yacht Club Bar, and continues the mythical shipwreck story of that watering hole. Named after a mythical cryptid and shapeshifting creature, Rougarou blends tales and traditions, reflecting Wright and Hedges’ own ever-evolving Southern story that began in Chattanooga before moving to Denver.

The cocktail program overseen by Hedges features Southern coastal cocktails that are part classic cocktail nostalgia and part modern influence; Wright’s wine menu is a bit tighter than Yacht Club's, with a more curated selection tht could grow over time. Executive Chef John David Wright came up with a menu of seasonal, Southern-inspired dishes in both small plates and larger servings; there's also a rotating daily selection of “Chicken on a Stick,” inspired by the Oxford, Mississippi staple. (No hot togs, however, which are such a hit at Yacht Club.)

Proceeds from the sale of a monthly special dish and drink will go to Curtis Park Neighbors; for the opening month, $1 from each order of a Sorghum Daiquiri and the Hot & Sour Catfish will go to the organization.

The 68-seat space includes twelve bar seats and vignettes in nooks that further the story of this refuge for the shipwrecked. Over Pour, a retail shop, will offer grab-and-go food and household items; out back, there's a 75-seat outdoor area.

In keeping with the live music legacy of Five Points, there will be live music in the backyard, starting on September 13 to coincide with the debut of the Hi Points Festival: Honky Tonk Express from 2 to 5 p.m. and The Parrisian from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

But for now, you can raise a glass to a new spot in Five Points. Get on board.

Rougarou is located at 2844 Welton Street and open Thursday through Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., with a full kitchen until close. Learn more at lerougarou.com and @LeRougarou.