DENVER – For decades there was a familiar roar in the dark between Race and Vine Streets on Colfax Avenue in downtown Denver.
“It’s been the Lion’s Lair for 63 years,” said Doug Kauffman, co-owner of Lion’s Lair. “A long time.”
The history of the intimate concert venue goes back even further.
“As far as I know, since sometime in the 1940’s,” said Kauffman.
It used to be a jazz club.
“There were an endless number of jazz artists who played here,” said Kauffman. Includes Dexter Gordon and Clark Terry.
The venue has housed legendary musicians and now some modern bands.
“The Black Keys, the Decemberists, Ozomatli, Mojo Nixon,” said Kauffman.
Kauffman believes this monarch of the Denver music scene may have the oldest liquor license of any concert halls in the city.
“Now that El Chapultepec is closing, I can’t think of anywhere else,” he said. “The liquor licenses are numbered and it was one of the oldest liquor licenses on Colfax. They had no data going back that far, so they couldn’t find out from the Excise and Licensing Office “
And boy – does the place have history. Some even believe this hideout is haunted.
“Ghosts of old jazzmen, ghosts of old regulars,” said Kauffman. “You come in here and you get a few drinks in you, you could conjure them, you never know. It can be real. “
Like any other live music venue, the COVID crisis has silenced the Lion’s roar of late.
“It’s been closed for eight months,” Kauffman said. ‘It is difficult. Really. It’s not like his old self. “
While the site landlord was patient, with so much impending uncertainty, Kauffman and one of his associates decided to launch a GoFundMe campaign a few days ago.
“A lot of people have come out of the woodwork,” said Kauffman.
He and his business partner are absolutely blown away by the support.
“It took us all by surprise,” said Kauffman.
More than 350 donors and counting from Wednesday evening.
“Small amounts, large amounts,” said Kauffman. “It’s moving that the place means a lot to much of the community here.”
They have raised nearly $ 16,000 to date. People in our community who appreciate this cultural icon. The “king” of Colfax, if you will.
“We’re just really grateful to everyone who got microchipped,” said Kauffman. ‘It will come back. I am convinced it will. “