Grey Cactus Cocina closed due to unpaid bills. (Photo by Colleen O’Connor.)
Grey Cactus Cocina y Bar in West Washington Park is closed due to unpaid taxes and rent, and an auction of the business property will take place on May 8, starting at 8 a.m.
The door is plastered with legal notices of property seizure, but a goodbye note is prominently featured.
“It is with heavy heart that we are announcing our forever closing of Grey Cactus Cocina y Bar. As we head to Coachella for contemplation, hoping to find the perfect blend of a community table with our passion for hospitality, we would like to thank you for the memories and including us in your neighborhood. Kind wishes to all of you!”
The rent, which was $4,561 a month, hadn’t been paid for March and April, and taxes for 2014 and 2015 had not been paid. A total of nearly $28,000 is owed.
In a way, that space at 295 S. Pennsylvania Street seems jinxed for restaurants. Since 2010, it’s been four different eateries: Pho Basil, Pho Pasta, CafeBar and Grey Cactus.
Real-estate developer Dane Huguley opened the space as CafeBar in 2011, then closed it late last year and re-opened a month later as Grey Cactus y Bar, focusing on Mexican street food like tacos and tostadas, with $4 specials like an achiote marinated pork empanada.
But by March, the rent hadn’t been paid.
Calls to Huguley were not immediately returned.
“I haven’t seen him around for awhile,” said Olav Peterson who co-owns the restaurant across the street that was listed as one Denver’s best restaurants in 2014.
He’d love for the change to be positive for Wash Park.
“We always wanted that space to go to someone who really understands the restaurant industry and brings high-quality food to the neighborhood, making it more synergistic – like Table 6 and Fruition have drawn a lot of attention to that area.”
, and fizzled. That happens. I was chef at Bistro One. We started with great fanfare, but couldn’t handle the volume.”
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