The Soiled Dove, one of Denver's longest-running live-music rooms, is getting a fresh start in Cherry Creek. Owner Frank Schultz is moving the Soiled Dove brand into Chopper's Sports Grill, reshaping the longtime sports bar into a hybrid stage-and-restaurant spot. The early plan centers on weekend shows and local acts, with reunion nights and a laser focus on sound quality.
New home, familiar name
As reported by Westword, Schultz is adding a stage and a state-of-the-art sound system to Chopper's and expects to roll out live music most weekends starting May 9. According to the outlet, the Railbenders will kick off the calendar, with an Opie Gone Bad reunion set for the following weekend. "We'll start booking it slow, then get it rolling," Schultz told Westword as he laid out how he wants to ease the Soiled Dove back into Denver's regular circuit.
Lowry's closure still hangs over the name
The Soiled Dove Underground shut down its Lowry stage in 2024 after the venue canceled concerts earlier that year during what officials called a restructuring, leaving a noticeable gap in Denver's intimate-venue lineup. The Gazette reported that the club paused shows through May 2024 as it entered a "major restructuring phase." For many local musicians and fans, that chapter is still fresh, so the Cherry Creek move is being watched closely.
The original building changed hands
In October 2025, BusinessDen reported that Dr. Jacquelyn Glenn purchased the former Tavern Lowry and Soiled Dove building at 7401 E. First Ave. and plans to use part of the property for a music school while restoring the downstairs performance space. That sale, combined with Schultz's decision to relaunch the Soiled Dove brand in Cherry Creek, sets up the possibility of two Dove-branded chapters operating on different timetables. Glenn told BusinessDen she intends to keep the name and bring music programming back to the Lowry room.
How Chopper's will change
Schultz is bringing pieces of the old club with him. Westword reports that he has rebuilt key components of the Soiled Dove's audio rig and is working with an acoustic designer to shape the Chopper's room and add soundproofing. "A lot of the same pieces and some new stuff," Schultz said, according to the outlet, and the team even plans to check in with the city's sound engineer to head off noise complaints. Programming is expected to thread the needle between the sports-bar regulars and concertgoers by keeping opening acts to a minimum when games are on so diners can watch the broadcast, then stay put for the headliners.
Why fans and bands care
For musicians, the Soiled Dove name still carries serious weight. BusinessDen noted that "every local band in Denver knows the Dove," and many performers view it as a rite of passage. If Schultz can recreate the acoustics and lock in the booking, the Cherry Creek version could offer another reliable mid-sized stage in a city where that tier of room has been thinning out. Promoters and bands told BusinessDen they hope the return marks the start of a slow comeback for smaller venues around Denver.
Schultz says he will "start booking it slow" and watch how the mix of sports and shows plays out, with the first ticketed events expected in May. For now, fans and musicians alike are waiting to see how the transplant holds up. A strong run could bring more intimate shows back onto Denver's nightly calendar, so keep an eye on venue channels as the spring schedule comes together.
