The Bus Rapid Transit construction on East Colfax Avenue has been hitting restaurants and shops hard, with many warning they may have to close if business doesn’t pick up. In June, one of our favorite bars, Middleman, shuttered after seven years in business.
Now, Q House, the other tenant of the building at 3421 East Colfax has announced that it’s throwing in the kitchen towel. “In disappointing news, Q House will be closing its doors after seven years of serving our brand of modern Chinese cuisine to our friends and neighbors in East Colfax and from all around greater Denver,” the restaurant announced via an Instagram post on September 13. It plans to shutter after service on October 4.
Chef/owner Christopher Lin, a Momofuku alum, opened Q House in 2018 and quickly won raves. And, as evidenced in their comments on the Westword Instagram post, fans are raving mad about this latest news. A sampling:
This makes me really sad… so many memories were made here. Watching all of the local small businesses suffer is devastating.
Nooooooo. I love Q House.
Fukkkkkk. These businesses on Colfax need much more assistance.
I’m confused….Yes, I think the city should help supplement for these small businesses during construction — but folks, we can still go to these businesses and give them our support while the construction is happening. They are still accessible! Go support your local restaurants if this upsets you!
When city officials finally realize how much damage they have done to small businesses and what they have turned this city into, it will be too late.
The only ones winning these days seem to be landlords, while the heart of the city is dying.
A total clusterfuck. Once Colfax opens again, what will be left open? So many great businesses going under without any action by the city to help them, while their street front access and parking is pulverized…. This could have been planned much better.
The city just wants bland, cookie-cutter real estate in every neighborhood and will bleed small businesses to death in order to get it.
The amount of restaurants and small businesses closing or relocating out of Denver should be alarming to everyone. This is not normal in any way shape or form. It’s every day now.
This is truly inexcusable. These businesses are being negatively impacted by this construction project with no support. I recommend we all continue to voice our concerns, but also make a concerted effort to support these businesses.
I’ll never forgive the city for this…
Denver is killing the soul of the city.
What do you think of the current state of construction? Are the $15,000 grants being offered certain businesses large enough to make up for the hit? And with Q House gone, where will you go for Chinese food? Post a comment or share your thoughts at editorial@westword.com.