New F&B options are returning to revive the Historic South Gaylord Street district. Following the closure of Agave Taco Bar last year, Naked Denver has announced that a similar concept will be replacing the spot, located at 2217 E Mississippi Ave.
Called The Taco Garage, it will be a small cantina centered around street tacos with house-made tortillas. The 700-square-foot space has an occupancy of 48 and will feature a full bar with a strong agave spirits program. Owner Bart Hickey calls it “a really cozy, intimate roadhouse vibe”.
Hickey is partnering with investors Aaron Grant and Kris Johnson, who recently purchased the 10,200-square-foot building for $6 million. It also houses the empty Wash Park Grille space. What Now Denver covered the trio’s plans to open a new restaurant called Wash Park Social in that portion of the property.
Wash Park Social will debut first, and Hickey expects The Taco Garage to open “a couple of months later”. He is targeting spring 2026 for both launches. The real estate deal was just executed two weeks ago, handled by broker Jeff Hallberg with Lee & Associates.
Both former eateries shuttered late last year after legal disputes between then-owner Jeff Estey and the estate of his partner Greg Sauber, Westword writes. The City of Denver’s Department of Finance then seized both for tax issues; while Estey tried to recuperate, the building was put up for sale in March.
