Every opening and closing this week: Another Golden restaurant closes after 11 years

This week saw a few notable restaurant closures across the Denver area.

Among them is Abejas in Golden, named one of Westword’s best new restaurants when it opened in 2015. The restaurant initially “temporarily” closed last week for what owner Brandon Bortles called “extended building-related issues.” But a few days later, Abejas announced the closure was permanent.

“After more than 11 years in Golden, we have made the difficult decision to close Abejas Bistro,” reads a statement shared on Instagram. “The restaurant industry has changed considerably over the past few years, and the decision to close has not come easily. While this is not the ending we had envisioned, we are incredibly proud of what we created together.”

Bortles also owned Golden’s Nosu Ramen, which also closed for good last week. We’ve reached out to Bortles to learn more.

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Meanwhile, Oskar Blues in Downtown Denver also closed after just shy of 10 years. It’d be easy to chalk this up to yet another Denver brewery closure, but that’s not exactly the case. Oskar Blues is a subsidiary of Monster Brewing (of Monster Energy Drink fame), so calling it a “craft brewer” is a bit of a stretch.

However, the move falls in line with the rollback in corporate brewery aesthetic chains. It’s the second Oskar Blues outpost to close recently, with the Colorado Springs location going dark at the end of last year. And we’ve already covered the slow death of Rock Bottom Brewery.

On the opening front, Summit Steak Bar celebrated a grand opening in Littleton, boasting its own on-site butcher shop and dry-aging room. Alongside an expected range of beef cuts and preparations is a so-called “Gunpowder Finish,” which uses “a proprietary seasoning finished in a cast-iron skillet for an Old West-style char.” The restaurant also introduced a members-only speakeasy called the High Steaks Club, accessible through a $500 membership.

Among a few openings we missed was the Dragon Cactus, an “East meets street” interpretation of Asian/Mexican fusion along the BRT-free stretch of East Colfax Avenue. The restaurant aims to mix up Mexican street food with Asian flavors. On the menu, you’ll find options like teriyaki al pastor, bulgogi carne asada and lemongrass chicken, all offered in bahn mi sandwiches, street tacos, or rice bowls.

Meanwhile, Renegade Burrito opened another installment in Lakewood. It’s the sixth location for Westword’s 2025 Best Breakfast Burrito Reader’s Choice selection. And Malai Thai Kitchen celebrated a September opening in Littleton. They’re calling it a “soft opening,” but based on the social media noise, it sure feels pretty loud.

Here’s the complete list of restaurants and bars that opened or closed this week*:

Bubba’s 33, 8268 E. Northfield Blvd.Dragon Cactus, 3014 E. Colfax Ave.Joy Batch Cookies, 9315 Dorchester St., Highlands Ranch Malai Thai Kitchen, 2630 W. Belleview Ave., Littleton Renegade Burrito, 220 Union Blvd., Lakewood The Southern Pit, 8476 Pearl St., Thornton (reopened)Summit Steak Bar, 5869 S. Alkire St., Littleton

Abejas, 807 13th St., Golden Oskar Blues, 1624 Market St.Tivoli Tap House, 8500 Peña Blvd.  

Know of something we missed? Email editorial@westword.com.

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Antony Bruno is Westword’s Food & Drink Editor, a position he started in May 2026. Previously he was a freelance writer who wrote the Eat Up Havana series, visiting every restaurant along Havana Street in Aurora. Prior to Westword, Bruno was an editor at Billboard magazine and has also written for 5280, Dining Out Denver, SOMM Journal, and other publications. A graduate of the Cook Street School of Culinary Arts, he strives to help others level up their cooking skills and food knowledge.