Cap City Tavern to Shut Down Amid Rising Costs and City Government Discontent
The cherished local pub, Cap City, is preparing to pour its last draught on July 27 at 8 p.m. This long-time haunt, cherished by the locals of Golden Triangle and frequented by City Hall staff, will soon be another fading entry on the roster of disappeared bars.
For close to two decades, Cap City Tavern served as a community nexus, but recently, the McTaggarts, proprietors of the tavern, voiced their discontent towards the Denver government in their post on social media. The escalation in minimum wage, ever-increasing food costs, and the persistent rise in city levies and charges have become burdensome.
Their pronouncement had a melancholic tone, rightly remarking that theirs wasn’t an isolated case – the Denver network of independently run restaurants is on the verge of becoming a relic of the past, facing continuous strain.
The public response underscored their sentiments, with many sharing their thoughts on the local economy, and reminiscing about their personal memories tethered to this soon-to-be-lost hub of socialization. A patron going by the name of krusso recalled watching a victorious Nuggets game within these walls.
Another regular, John, shared his sentiments of camaraderie, having formed several friendships at this establishment. Furthermore, gimbybeg added his perspective, sharing that when he first became a Denverite, almost a quarter-century back, the city had an abundance of family-owned businesses. That landscape has shifted drastically now.
His narrative doesn’t shy away from pointing fingers at the pandemic, and substandard calls made by previous governance as prime catalysts responsible for the demise of millions of family enterprises and job losses, with many failing to rally post COVID. He sighed in sadness for the remarkable establishments that couldn’t stand the storm.
From mobb_7’s perspective, Denver’s future is looking rather homogeneous – populated by generic chains instead of diverse local businesses. The sentiment of losing the city’s unique urban fabric is strongly echoed in thecatevans’ comment, critical of the city crippling local ventures by selling real estate to out-of-state capital interests such as New York and North Carolina.
In the face of these challenges, thecatevans believes the city owes a debt to these businesses. This situation, they compare to a reckless design decision that financially hollowed-out the populace. They condemn the administrative strategies for being insensitive to the local ecosystem and greedily exploiting the circumstances.
Pondering the loss of their favorite spots, dburn wistfully adds Cap City to a growing list of lost watering holes, side by side with Benny’s, Gov’s Park, Park Tavern, Cheeky Monk, and Falling Rock. Their lament paints a stark image of a painfully changing landscape.
Another saddened voice, jburn, dejectedly raises a tantalizing question aimed at masses— ‘should we collectively purchase it?’ A suggestion flavored with both desperation and willful resilience against the seemingly unavoidable tide of change.
The string of reflections ended with Doug’s intriguing perspective. He posited the dwindling customer presence post-COVID as a reason for the business downturn. Further, he expressed concern about the indirect economic implications for Colorado, as marijuana legalization spreads across other states, potentially causing job losses, a reduction in tourism, a slowdown in real estate, CO2 gas sales, security challenges, among others.
In the atmosphere of uncertainty and grief, the one thing that remains certain is that Cap City will serve its last on the evening of Sunday, July 27. A venerable establishment that thrived for 18 years will finally dim its lights and close its doors, leaving behind a tangible void in the heart of its community.
As these remarks and anecdotes echo, we’re reminded of the changes cities and their constituents go through. Times of hardship often lead to drastic transformations, in turn shaping the narrative and character of the city. Yet, the essence of those transformations lies in the static memory of places lost— places like Cap City, whose spirit will continue to permeate Denver’s local lore even after its last call.