The cavernous LoDo space that once thumped with Blake Street Tavern crowds is gearing up for a second act. The building a block from Coors Field, long a magnet for Opening Day revelers and weekend watch parties, is set to revive its game-day chaos as a hybrid sports bar and live-music venue under a new banner.
On Wednesday, 9News reported that the longtime LoDo stalwart will reopen under new ownership as The Tavern on Blake Street. According to the station, the announcement follows the bar’s 2023 closure and months of back-and-forth over the lease and a significant renovation effort.
New owners, familiar faces
Jeff and Ashley Moerke, the team behind Harper and Hudson Hospitality Group and the Tavern Snowmass, are leading the revival, Westword reported. “Everybody that I know in Denver has some type of great story and moment of being in there,” Jeff told the outlet, explaining why they wanted to bring the space back to life instead of letting it fade into LoDo history.
To keep some of that old Blake Street DNA intact, the Moerkes have reportedly brought back several familiar faces, including former managers, bartenders and security staff from the original tavern’s lineup.
What to expect inside
The updated venue is billing itself as a mash-up of sports-bar energy and live-music room. According to the Tavern on Blake Street website, the relaunch plan includes trivia nights, live music, DJs, and a full food and drink program. The site is already advertising hiring opportunities, with open roles for bartenders and event staff as the space ramps up.
Repairs and delays
The comeback has not exactly been a quick paint-and-polish job. The new operators uncovered extensive plumbing and HVAC problems that pushed renovation costs into the seven-figure range and delayed earlier opening targets, according to BusinessDen. That discovery forced fresh negotiations with the building’s owner and stretched out the timeline for a long-term, sustainable reopening.
Why it matters to LoDo
Blake Street Tavern shut its doors in April 2023 after roughly 20 years as one of the Ballpark neighborhood’s cornerstone game-day hangouts, leaving a gap in the Coors Field orbit that many Rockies fans still complain about. The Denver Gazette covered the original closure, noting its long run as a hub for local sports fans.
Now, with a new name and a familiar mission, local boosters say the return of a large watch-party venue on Blake Street could help pull some of that game-day foot traffic and pre-first-pitch energy back toward Coors Field.
