Bonnie Brae's Tavern

Remember that scene in “It’s A Wonderful Life” when they pan along the quaint Main Street with the shops and neon signs?  It always makes me long for those quintessential bits of Americana.  Unfortunately, in many cities, these collections of “Mom and Pop” shops are only found in memories.

Luckily, in Denver, many of these bits of years gone by are still thriving.  One of my favorites is the stretch of University Boulevard that bisects the Bonnie Brae neighborhood.  It may only be one block, but the business owners have made it a destination.

The Bonnie Brae Tavern holds the title for the longest running, yet seemingly unchanged, venue.  Bill Dire, a visionary with a piece of land covered in sagebrush, opened the tavern in 1934.  The country was reeling from the end of Prohibition, and Bill wanted to be in the forefront of the after party.  With Denver real estate development heading to the south of the city center, folks in areas such as Wash Park and University Park were building new Denver homes in earnest.  Being a convenient place to stop for a bite and beer, the Bonnie Brae Tavern saw success from the start.  As the Bonnie Brae neighborhood grew around the restaurant and dirt roads were paved over, the local watering hole remained true to its roots.

The interior is unchanged from the 1940′s, complete with turquoise upholstery and chromed bar stools that are as comfortable as the day they were installed.  The fare is as eclectic as their clientele and includes their famous pizza, meatball sandwiches, patty melts and classic Mexican dishes.

The neighborhood hot spot is still run by the descendants of Bill Dire.  They recently celebrated the restaurant’s 75th year and will be hosting a Customer Appreciation Day on March 19th to thank their community for those years of loyal support.