Colorado Plus Brew Pub and Taphouse, a longtime West 38th Avenue hangout in Wheat Ridge, will pour its final pints on May 30 after 13 years in business. Owner Eugene Kahng plans to step away from the industry to spend more time with family and focus on personal projects, and a local operator is already lined up to take over the space.
Owner signals burnout after long run
Kahng, a familiar name in the Wheat Ridge dining scene, announced the decision to close and, according to Westword, shared a reflective Facebook post about stepping back. Westword also reports that he invested roughly $400,000 in an eight-month gut renovation, staffing has dropped from about 25 employees to roughly a dozen, and another local operator is set to move into the building next. For more on his long tenure in the neighborhood, see What Now Denver.
Owner's farewell note
"We need to step back and away from the industry we have loved for so long," Kahng wrote in the Facebook post, as quoted by Westword. He told the outlet he wants more time with his family and even hopes to learn traditional Korean fermentation techniques like doenjang before considering any future ventures.
Final weeks: hours and address
Colorado Plus, at 6995 West 38th Avenue, plans to stay open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Monday through May 30, according to Colorado Plus's website. The pub's menu and reservation pages remain online as Kahng winds down operations and prepares to hand off the keys.
Closure fits a wider pattern
The move fits into a broader pullback in the craft beer world. The Brewers Association's "Year in Beer 2025" report found that brewery closings outpaced openings and estimated that craft volume was down about 5% at midyear. Brewers Association analysts point to changing drinking habits, rising costs, and local market saturation as ongoing pressure points for small brewers.
Kahng has said he hopes the change in operators will let the space thrive under new leadership while he steps back for a breather. Regulars have until May 30 to grab a last pint and say their goodbyes.
