The Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii that anchored the corner of Speer and Federal in Denver’s Highlands has gone dark, leaving an empty end-cap along one of the city’s busier commuter routes. This week, regulars showed up to find the lights off and chairs stacked, a quiet end to the island-themed café that had been pouring lattes and handing out breakfast sandwiches on that corner for the last few years. With the space now sitting empty, brokers are already working to line up the next tenant.
As reported by BusinessDen, the Highland outpost at 2990 N. Speer Blvd. has been vacated. BusinessDen also notes that company officials did not respond to requests for comment about the closure.
Space now listed for sublease
A LoopNet listing for 2990 N. Speer Blvd. bills the unit as a 1,500-square-foot end-cap with a patio and tags it as “Former Bad Ass Coffee.” The listing also points out that more than 50,000 vehicles pass through the Speer and Federal intersection each day, underscoring how visible that corner is to Denver drivers. Crexi carries a similar sublease posting and shows Kinsey & Company Commercial Real Estate as the broker handling inquiries.
Where the brand came from
Bad Ass Coffee started on Hawai‘i’s Big Island in 1989 and grew through franchising, eventually bringing the brand to Denver. The Highlands location opened in 2021, according to local coverage at the time. Business directories such as Kompass list the company’s corporate address in the Denver area at 7347 S. Revere Parkway in Centennial.
What’s next for the corner
The LoopNet listing shows the space hitting the market on Feb. 18, and marks the unit as available “Now,” with Kinsey & Company listed as the leasing agent. Crexi’s marketing materials mirror the LoopNet posting and include photos and floor information for would-be tenants sizing up the site. For now, neighbors and prospective operators are watching the listing as the busy Speer and Federal corner waits to see whether another coffee shop or a different kind of retailer moves in next.
