Three Denver restaurants have closed or announced their impending closure after having operated for just four to 16 months. But all three had already faced challenges.
Rolling Pin Pizza
Rolling Pin Pizza, which opened four-and-a-half months ago in the former Tacos Tequila Whiskey spot at 1514 York St., said Monday that its last day of service will be Aug. 24. Owned by longtime Denver restaurateur Kevin Morrison, who also owned Tacos Tequila Whiskey, the spot specialized in tavern-style, thin-crust pizzas. At the time of the changeover, Morrison said he was redoing the concept because the neighborhood was too saturated with taco joints.
Rolling Pin is placing its staff at other Denver restaurants and hopes to reopen one day in the Denver suburbs, according to a post on Instagram that announced the closure.
Crêpes ‘n Crêpes
A standard in Cherry Creek for 19 years, Crêpes ‘n Crêpes moved to Denver’s Congress Park neighborhood in the spring of 2023. But the new space, at 1222 Madison St., is now empty, Westword reported.
It is the second restaurant at that location to close soon after opening: Billy’s Inn lasted less than a year there, closing in November 2022. Before that, the address was home to TAG Burger Bar for several years.
A.J.’s Pit Bar-B-Q Steakhouse
A.J.’s Pit Bar-B-Q Steakhouse, which opened in January, has also closed, according to Business Den, which reported the news this week. It is the fourth concept that restaurateur Jared Leonard has tried out in the space at 81 S. Pennsylvania St.; the previous concept there was Clairette, a Mediterranean-inspired cocktail lounge and restaurant.
Leonard, who also owns A.J.’s Pit Bar-B-Q in Denver, Grabowski’s Pizzeria in Lakewood and Campfire Evergreen in Evergreen, is hoping to reopen the steakhouse in the Denver suburbs at some point in the future, Business Den wrote. He will not re-lease the Washington Park space.
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