3 Kings Tavern Closing For Good: Another Denver Treasure Lost

Taken by Dave DiFilippo

Announced to the staff this week, 3 Kings Tavern in Denver is closing after 14 years.

Another in a long list of COVID-19 related closures for the Mile High City, this one hitting a bit close to home for those of us who have spent many a UMS glued to the stage waiting for the next undiscovered gem of a band to perform. Or attended any number of comedy shows and/or burlesque performances.

“Pretty much, we did not get the SBA loan. We weren’t able to carry through not knowing how long this is going to be, what the future for live music is going to be…we were waiting for the second round which didn’t come through.” Said Lissa Quigley, Manager of 3 Kings Tavern.

“I guess, right now, it’s just kind of a scary future for any live music, venues, bars, concerts— just because we don’t know where this pandemic’s going to take us … not even [just] independent venues, but even larger venues are going to struggle with shows; concerts aren’t going to be concerts for a long, long time… It will exist within the hearts of the people and, you know, the kind of DIY stuff, but as like a mainstream and tangible kind of thing — it’s not a thing”

Yet another avoidable loss had our federal government actually delivered some of these loans and grants with expediency to small businesses, we might have been able to avoid the fate of 3 Kings and what I am suspecting will be many other cultural treasures in Colorado. We need to do something to protect people and businesses now.

By the time many small businesses were approved for these grants and loans, the fund that the federal government set up was completely empty; the consequences of which are plainly seen as small and mid-sized established businesses are taken apart limb by limb right here in our community.

A lobbying group has recently formed specifically to try and prevent and preserve independent venues across the country. NIVA or the National Independent Venue Association has been busy trying to funnel congressional support to protect the 1000+ independent venues across the country before it’s too late. Consider supporting them and help spread the word.

3 Kings Tavern has been a host to so many amazing acts that it’s almost impossible to sum it all up. With the ongoing pandemic ripping through industries across the country, it is hard to say that this will not be the last closure we will be reporting on. But we can say, rest assured, that this one of the ones that hurts the most.