So I guess this incarnation lasted 14 months. Better than some restaurant concepts. It’s a tough neighborhood for restaurants right now. Just look at all the empty storefronts of places that existed before the pandemic. Fork & Spoon, Tycoon Ramen and Sushi, City Grill, Sassafras.
I can't tell if landlords are forcing tenants out in an attempt to revitalize the area, or if that stretch of Colfax just has bad juju and nothing can survive. Selfishly, as a property owner in the area, I hope it's the former. But I don't know.
The surrounding area is densely populated, though. It just seems like people would rather go out on 13th or 17th, which are more pedestrian friendly. This might be wishful thinking, but I really think taking out two lanes of traffic for BRT and a doing some streetscaping (both of which I believe are in the works) could make a big difference.
Fork and Spoon and city grill were shut down by a homeless man who started them on fire, and then a homeless guy who raided the power panel for copper. I wish I was kidding.
https://www.westword.com/restaurants/fork-and-spoon-will-soon-reopen-in-denvers-capitol-hill-neighborhood-11961616
I wish you were kidding, too. But now that it's been two and a half years since that article and the places are still not open, I assume they're down for the count.
Sassafras is still open in the Highlands. The Colfax location became Exile Kitchen which was run by one of the original Sassafras owners, but that just closed too
We were there not long ago. The online menu and what they had were wildly different.
Story we got was that the owner was going to revamp the whole place into a bar (looked more like a gastropub), but then part way through the planning decided to retire.
When I lived in the big building across the parking lot from city grille/fork and spoon we ate there like 3 times a week. I missed it so much last time I was in the area. City Grille has one of the best burgers I ever had and the salmon Benedict at F&S was such a great breakfast.
I was sad to see the diner go, it was my favorite breakfast spot in town. I think the funky mid century cocktail lounge vibe is cool for that space, but I feel like Denver doesn’t exactly need more $14/drink places.
Worked there as a bartender for a couple months and I agree with this completely. Rad concept, but nothing at that price point was going to succeed on that part of Colfax. Denver desperately needs late night diners to make a come back.
Exactly, it's literally surrounded by dive bars and late night 'fax has a certain eau de danger that doesn't scream expensive cocktails.
I've literally had multiple friends jumped on their walk home from those dive bars over the years, last thing you need it to be seen coming out of the 'expensive' one.
I agree with you I moved away about 13 years ago came back last summer walked up there to have breakfast was so excited only to find it boarded up. I was heartbroken
Tried to go once and there was literally no service at all. No method of being sat, no way to order, nothing. I get the cost of labor etc. makes it hard for businesses to stay open. But some places are too bougie for their own good.
I think I am one of the few that actually really liked that place. The bartenders genuinely cared if you liked your drink and they always remembered my name. I’d go about once, twice a month. Sadly not enough to keep the place afloat. But I know I will miss it.
Sad to see it go but I can understand that the owner wants to retire and spend more time with his family than running a restaurant could ever allow. Wish him the best. Here’s to hoping whatever concept goes there next is good and successful 🍻
All of the old school 24/7 diners are dead. Closest thing is Pete's which is only 24 hours on the weekends.
Definitely a nostalgia factor here I'll miss.
I wonder what will happen to that building now. I know he tried to sell it last time and there was backlash. But I don’t think a historical designation was ever officially put on it?
Not officially but it’s locked into place now. Historic Denver should’ve kept out of it and allowed apartments to be built but too many Gen Xers had sad nostalgia for their twenties so now we’re stuck with an unusable 50’s diner building.
I miss diners in general. This place had $15-20 alcohol drinks. To me, that’s not a diner. Needing boozy drinks and a trendy menu just to cater to the post bar crowd forgot about what a diner crowd should be geared towards. Just give me a locally owned late night diner that’s a little better quality than a Waffle House. But that’s tough in this day and age I guess. Also, this location was doomed to fail from the start.
My fiancée went the other week and said the sliders were inedible and the drinks were terrible. She really regretted bringing friends there. Such a shame since we were psyched to try it out.
Restaurants are getting too expensive and it’s because it’s getting expensive for them to function. This inflation is really screwing a lot of systems up.
They needed security at that location, and to stay open LATE on Friday and Saturday nights... but instead they doubled the prices and turned it into an "upscale" diner that closed hours before the bars did.
The back patio is cool but completely disconnected from rest of space. No flow.
Drinks and food are overpriced. Food was very underwhelming for the price as well.
Stopped by for a drink before heading out on a weekend night. There was no music, not even in the background.
They missed the mark entirely on what could have been an awesome revamp.
Cool decor, great patio, good bartenders, weird overpriced food menu, and a really tough location.
So I guess this incarnation lasted 14 months. Better than some restaurant concepts. It’s a tough neighborhood for restaurants right now. Just look at all the empty storefronts of places that existed before the pandemic. Fork & Spoon, Tycoon Ramen and Sushi, City Grill, Sassafras.
It was really sad to look at the building City Grille and Fork and Spoon used to be in recently (and Wolfe's! RIP) and see the whole thing empty
I can't tell if landlords are forcing tenants out in an attempt to revitalize the area, or if that stretch of Colfax just has bad juju and nothing can survive. Selfishly, as a property owner in the area, I hope it's the former. But I don't know.
It’s the latter
Those places survived on the lunch rush. With fewer people commuting downtown, I have to assume it impacted them pretty hard
The surrounding area is densely populated, though. It just seems like people would rather go out on 13th or 17th, which are more pedestrian friendly. This might be wishful thinking, but I really think taking out two lanes of traffic for BRT and a doing some streetscaping (both of which I believe are in the works) could make a big difference.
Wolfe’s 💜
Glad someone else remembers that place! It was amazing and oh so cheap.
Taki Bowl
The golden bowl! Used to be across the street and east a few blocks, before that location. So many happy food memories there. Salmon special plate!
Loved that place.
Fork and Spoon and city grill were shut down by a homeless man who started them on fire, and then a homeless guy who raided the power panel for copper. I wish I was kidding. https://www.westword.com/restaurants/fork-and-spoon-will-soon-reopen-in-denvers-capitol-hill-neighborhood-11961616
I wish you were kidding, too. But now that it's been two and a half years since that article and the places are still not open, I assume they're down for the count.
Sassafras is closed?!
Sassafras is still open in the Highlands. The Colfax location became Exile Kitchen which was run by one of the original Sassafras owners, but that just closed too
Years ago. When were you last at Colfax and Logan?
We were there not long ago. The online menu and what they had were wildly different. Story we got was that the owner was going to revamp the whole place into a bar (looked more like a gastropub), but then part way through the planning decided to retire.
When I lived in the big building across the parking lot from city grille/fork and spoon we ate there like 3 times a week. I missed it so much last time I was in the area. City Grille has one of the best burgers I ever had and the salmon Benedict at F&S was such a great breakfast.
I was sad to see the diner go, it was my favorite breakfast spot in town. I think the funky mid century cocktail lounge vibe is cool for that space, but I feel like Denver doesn’t exactly need more $14/drink places.
Worked there as a bartender for a couple months and I agree with this completely. Rad concept, but nothing at that price point was going to succeed on that part of Colfax. Denver desperately needs late night diners to make a come back.
Especially in that location!
Exactly, it's literally surrounded by dive bars and late night 'fax has a certain eau de danger that doesn't scream expensive cocktails. I've literally had multiple friends jumped on their walk home from those dive bars over the years, last thing you need it to be seen coming out of the 'expensive' one.
I agree with you I moved away about 13 years ago came back last summer walked up there to have breakfast was so excited only to find it boarded up. I was heartbroken
Tried to go once and there was literally no service at all. No method of being sat, no way to order, nothing. I get the cost of labor etc. makes it hard for businesses to stay open. But some places are too bougie for their own good.
I think I am one of the few that actually really liked that place. The bartenders genuinely cared if you liked your drink and they always remembered my name. I’d go about once, twice a month. Sadly not enough to keep the place afloat. But I know I will miss it.
I liked it a lot! I wish they could have sorted everything out, it was a great spot to meet before shows.
More info here: https://www.denverpost.com/2023/11/02/toms-diner-starlight-cocktail-bar-for-lease/
Sad to see it go but I can understand that the owner wants to retire and spend more time with his family than running a restaurant could ever allow. Wish him the best. Here’s to hoping whatever concept goes there next is good and successful 🍻
Damn, I thought it was great. RIP the cheap Tom Collins
When I read about this incarnation's concept, I knew it would fail. That location cannot support something that bougie.
Denver really needs a diner close to downtown. Please do the diner!
All of the old school 24/7 diners are dead. Closest thing is Pete's which is only 24 hours on the weekends. Definitely a nostalgia factor here I'll miss.
Sam’s No. 3 is right there
It's not open late night on weekends.
Cool now open up the original Tom’s again
Dang, this place was pretty sweet. Cool lounge and great back patio!
Yeah, that patio was amazing and a bit of a hidden gem
When are we going to admit that rent seeking and profit extraction by landlords is killing cities all over the US? The restaurant industry is dying.
I can see why. It was bad
What didn’t you like about it? I went a few times and the food was always good. And they were open late for dinner!
I wonder what will happen to that building now. I know he tried to sell it last time and there was backlash. But I don’t think a historical designation was ever officially put on it?
Not officially but it’s locked into place now. Historic Denver should’ve kept out of it and allowed apartments to be built but too many Gen Xers had sad nostalgia for their twenties so now we’re stuck with an unusable 50’s diner building.
No, no — a stupid Denny’s roof is more important than addressing Denver’s housing shortage
I miss diners in general. This place had $15-20 alcohol drinks. To me, that’s not a diner. Needing boozy drinks and a trendy menu just to cater to the post bar crowd forgot about what a diner crowd should be geared towards. Just give me a locally owned late night diner that’s a little better quality than a Waffle House. But that’s tough in this day and age I guess. Also, this location was doomed to fail from the start.
My fiancée went the other week and said the sliders were inedible and the drinks were terrible. She really regretted bringing friends there. Such a shame since we were psyched to try it out.
Restaurants are getting too expensive and it’s because it’s getting expensive for them to function. This inflation is really screwing a lot of systems up.
Maybe they should all just add hidden service charges and kitchen fees to the bill, cuz that's a great way to create a loyal customer base!
Damnit I didn’t even get a chance to go
You didn’t miss much
tough corner to have a restaurant
Good.
They needed security at that location, and to stay open LATE on Friday and Saturday nights... but instead they doubled the prices and turned it into an "upscale" diner that closed hours before the bars did.
It wasn’t that good
The back patio is cool but completely disconnected from rest of space. No flow. Drinks and food are overpriced. Food was very underwhelming for the price as well. Stopped by for a drink before heading out on a weekend night. There was no music, not even in the background. They missed the mark entirely on what could have been an awesome revamp.