Update: Since this story was published, Humboldt Kitchen + Bar has informed guests that it will now be closing on Saturday, Aug. 26. The restaurant was unable to stay fully staffed as employees move on to other Concept Restaurants businesses, according to Humboldt’s Instagram post.
Humboldt Kitchen + Bar’s 10-year run is coming to an end. The neighborhood eatery, located at 1700 Humboldt St., plans to close in early September, according to a notice on its website.
“After negotiation, the restaurant owners and landlord were unable to settle on lease extension terms that were acceptable and sustainable for the future of the business,” the announcement reads. “Additional information regarding the restaurant’s closing schedule and activities will be announced on our website once available.”
Concept Restaurants, which owns Humboldt and eight other restaurants (including Stout Street Social in Denver, and a few hotels), opened Humboldt in 2013. The New American restaurant is popular for its farm-to-table and fish-centric menu filled with oysters, craft beer and wine. It is also known for its award-winning hamburger.
Creighton Smith, president of Concept Restaurants, told The Denver Post that Humboldt’s 10-year lease was coming to an end, and the group spent months trying to work out a new deal with the landlord, a New-York based company, but “ultimately, our business-model for the next five to 10 years didn’t align with theirs,” Smith said. Humboldt plans to stay open through Labor Day weekend, he said.
“Margins in the restaurant business, particularly in Denver, have gotten smaller and smaller and tougher and tougher,” he added. “The next five years look a whole lot different than the last five. Nothing’s easy in this business right now with costs constantly on the rise.”
Smith said that all current Humboldt employees will have the chance to transfer to Concept Restaurants’ affiliated properties in Denver, Golden and Boulder. He added that the restaurant group has considered looking for a new space for the Humboldt, but it’s been tricky to find the right match for the brand.
“This one has definitely been tough to swallow,” Smith said.
