Photo attribution: Rob Squire
Not surprisingly, during the holidays and into the first months of Winter, there’s been a slowdown in new establishments applying for liquor licenses. We expect to see an increase in new restaurant and bar openings in the Spring. In addition, several businesses who have successfully received licenses are still awaiting other city reviews and inspections before opening for business.
UpDoNA’s Good Neighbor Committee (GNC) was represented by Pam Oredson and Lisa Pope at the January Excise and License hearing for DazzleJazz Inc. The popular neighborhood jazz club applied for a location transfer from Bauers, on Curtis, to 1080 14th Street, adjacent to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Our representatives appeared and testified both as representatives of UpDoNA and as private resident witnesses from the area. Their presence insured Dazzle met the minimum requirements of two positive testimonies for the license application. The GNC’s suggested license restrictions (noise, firearms restrictions, orderly lines) will appear on the face of the new license. Dazzle reports they are still awaiting the application approval and hope to open the new location in mid-April or early May.
Kevin Henderson, co-owner and spokesperson for 4 Play Whiskey and Tequila, informs us that although the interior buildout is complete, delays in city construction approvals have pushed back the anticipated opening dates. At any rate, their group is planning to open the smaller bar, 99 Bottles (adjacent to the Beirut Grill), in March and the larger 4Play, featuring live acts and dick jockeys, in May.
Vanish, the “magic bar” opening in the old Boney’s BBQ space has been wrestling with rebuilding the exhaust hood system which must reach up 5 stories to vent. Owner Mike Hudgins says he has also had delays scheduling city HVAC inspections, which he would like to complete before building out booths and retiling the area.
Contrary to previous reports, 801 Fish, 999 17th Street, is not yet open for business. Although they received their liquor license back in November, they, like many others, are still awaiting final inspections from the city.
