City hearing officer has recommended that its liquor license transfer be approved but its license for live music denied

By Emilie Rusch | erusch@denverpost.com

From Denver Post ORIGINAL ARTICLE FOUND HERE

A Platte Street bar pushed out of its home by redevelopment is running into opposition from some of its new neighbors in Sunnyside — including a Denver city councilman.

The Monkey Barrel, known for live music, classic video games and a two-story Peyton Manning mural, had hoped to transfer its liquor and cabaret licenses to 4401 Tejon St. from 1611 Platte St. Carbone’s Italian Sausage Deli, a beloved northwest Denver eatery, has also signed on to reopen in the space.

But in response to mostly noise-related neighborhood objections, a city hearing officer has recommended that the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses approve only the transfer of the liquor license.

A final decision won’t be made before Thursday, the deadline for formal objections to be filed with the city, according to a city spokesman. If the hearing officer’s recommendation is upheld, the Monkey Barrel would be allowed to serve alcohol but could no longer book live music.

“If I don’t get the liquor license, Carbone’s doesn’t open. If I don’t get the cabaret license, we’re going to have to change — we might even have to change our name,” Monkey Barrel owner Jimmy Nigg said, noting that he has already invested $200,000 in rent and renovations at the new property.

“Our logo is ‘Live Music & Local Beer.’ If we don’t have live music, we lose our branding, we lose part of our following,” Nigg said. “A lot of the people who are going to follow us from Platte to Tejon won’t because we don’t have the live music anymore.”

Jimmy Nigg, owner of Monkey Barrel, the Platte Street bar famous for its Peyton Manning mural, works on the interior at the new location at 4401 Tejon Street with Evan Perucca, middle, and John Newton, right, on July 26, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post

The bar’s live music, late hours and potential for noise, though, were chief among neighbors’ concerns. The proposed location, previously home to a deli and natural food market, sits across the street from Chaffee Park in a primarily residential area of Sunnyside.

“The neighbors want to see that area be an area of shops and restaurants that reflect a neighborhood context. It’s not something we want to be a bar-hopping scene,” said Niles Emerick, co-chair of Sunnyside United Neighbors Inc.’s planning and community development committee. “Having (Monkey Barrel’s) concept there would be great — provided we have some agreements in place guarding against noise bleed and late, loud patrons.”

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