Cap City Tavern Becomes Latest Victim of Denver’s Homelessness and High Costs

By Hanna Powers | KDVR Fox 31

DENVER (KDVR) — After nearly 20 years in business, a beloved Capitol Hill restaurant and bar is preparing to close its doors for good.

Cap City Tavern, located at 13th and Sherman, will pour its final round this Sunday. Owners Dino and Piper McTaggart say the decision comes after years of financial struggles brought on by rising costs, city fees, and declining foot traffic downtown.

“This was my lifelong dream,” Piper McTaggart said. “We haven’t taken a salary in a year and a half, and we just got a huge tax bill. The writing was on the wall.”

The owners say they feel let down by city leaders, citing ongoing issues with safety, homelessness, and a lack of support for small businesses in the downtown corridor.

“There are people defecating and living in tents,” Dino McTaggart said. “People are afraid to come downtown.”

Even Denver Mayor Mike Johnston acknowledged the loss during his 2025 State of the City address, calling it a “wake-up call.”

“My wife Courtney and I discovered one of our local favorites, Cap City, will be closing after 20 years,” Johnston said, pledging renewed efforts to revitalize the area and support local restaurants.

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