It has been two months into 2025, but restaurants in Denver are on the edge. In February alone, old and new restaurants, such as Osaka Ramen and EatYa Pizza, bid their goodbyes. A common reason cited by the restaurant owners is high operating costs amidst economic inconsistency.
Highlights
- Many restaurants in Denver closed down in February 2025.
- Osaka Ramen ended its decade-long journey as a ramen restaurant in Denver.
- EatYa Pizza had to close in just ten months of service as a pizza restaurant.
Denver Restaurants That Served Their Last Meal In February 2025
The Denver restaurant scene is popular for its diverse food and wholesome dining experiences. However, the existing conditions reflect that experienced and inexperienced restaurants face many challenges, pushing many loved Denver restaurants to shut down.
Below are four Denver restaurants that closed in February 2025.
Osaka Ramen
Osaka Ramen that Closed in Denver (Source – Google Reviews)
After serving a mouthwatering range of dishes for almost a decade, Osaka Ramen closed its Denver location, 2611 Walnut St, Denver, CO 80205, on February 23. Started in 2015, the restaurant earned immense love from Denver residents for its delicious Ramen bowls and other Japanese delicacies.
Osaka Ramen’s menu had a blend of rice bowls, bento items, ramen, and desserts. The most requested dishes of the RiNo district-based restaurant were Green Chile and Chorizo.
The restaurant officials revealed they were shutting down due to escalating ingredient costs, inconsistent economic conditions, and high labor costs.
Regardless of the outcome, Jeff Osaka, the chef at Osaka Ramen, expressed his pride for having built a ‘culinary community’ and the memorable moments shared with loyal customers.
Grabowski’s Pizzeria
Starting in 2019 with Chicago-based Jared Leonard, the pizza restaurant Grabowski’s Pizzeria established itself as a reputed eatery in Denver. However, after five years of service, the restaurant at 3350 Brighton Blvd, Denver, CO 80216, formally announced its closure on February 11.
Famous for serving tasty Chicago-style and Tavern-style thin-crust pizzas and impressive BBQ, Grabowski’s Pizzeria was the go-to spot for families in Denver. Its warm ambience made the pizza restaurant preferred for hosting birthday parties and family dinners.
The menu at Grabowski’s Pizzeria, which included Mediterranean salads and Italian pizzas, made it a favorite of many residents. Visitors relished the Garlic Parmesan and spicy cajun wings. Desserts at the pizzeria, like Root Beer Floats, were also loved by many.
Jared Leonard, owner of Grabowski’s Pizzeria, said, “It’s what’s going on with everybody right now – high operating costs for the last two years. It seems to be impossible with the full-service model. It’s just a hard model right now with the economy.”
AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q
AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q Closed In Denver (Source – Google Reviews)
Expanding his horizons in Denver’s restaurant scene, Chicago resident Jared Leonard, along with his wife Amanda Leonard, started AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q in 2019. This was his second restaurant venture, besides Grabowski’s Pizzeria. However, this barbeque restaurant also closed on February 28.
AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q was located at 2180 S Delaware St, Denver, CO 80223, United States. It offered a variety of smoked meats, such as ribs, pastrami, brisket, and sausage.
However, developments in the past month have not been favorable for Jared and AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q. According to reports, employees at the Denver-based barbeque claimed that the Leonard had been “stealing from the employees” as they had not received their income for over a year.
Other than these allegations, Leonard was sued and faced lawsuits filed against him by former employees and food distributors. Additionally, AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q’s social media profiles were taken down.
EatYA Pizza
EatYa Pizza Restaurant That Closed In Denver (Source – Google Reviews)
Owned by chef Nicholas Kayser, EatYa Pizza ended its short stint as a pizzeria in Denver in just 10 months of its service. Although Kayser was excited to start his Roman-style pizza joint in May 2024, his plans seem to have not lived up to expectations.
The pizzeria in Sugar Building, Denver, 1530 16th St Ste 101, Denver, CO 80202, closed on February 28. EatYa Pizza informed its loyal customers about the closure through its Instagram handle. The pizza restaurant thanked everyone who supported it in the past 10 months.
During its service, the Denver-based EatYa Pizza made waves with its impressive menu, which included Pepperoni pizza, Cannoli, Vegan pizza, Boza, and Potato and pesto Slice Vegetarian.
In its Instagram post, Kayser stated, “Unfortunately, the business itself is not sustainable in the current landscape of what LoDo has to offer, and myself and the entire ownership team are saddened to say that we are forced to close the doors.”
“This is not easy for anyone, however, we have not found a way to make the restaurant be successful to a point where we can continue operations any longer.”
The mass shutdown of Denver restaurants underscores the harsh reality of its fluctuating economic landscape, which is making it difficult for the owners to sustain. This is why the dining spots have been forced to shut their doors despite their dishes being loved.
