Pete's Kitchen in Denver Struggles Through Street Construction

There are great Colorado restaurants that are old, then there are Colorado restaurants that are legendary. One, along Colfax in Denver is both, and was in trouble in the summer of 2025.

Will Pete's Kitchen in Denver Have to Shut Down Due to Construction?

Pete's Kitchen, technically what is known as Pete's Kitchen today, has been at Colfax and Race in Denver since 1962. Hundreds of thousands of travelers, late-night partyers, early morning regulars and more, have enjoyed great meals there. I, myself, have had breakfast a time or two; it's a classic "greasy spoon" kind of place, and I love it.

Pete's Kitchen via Facebook

Pete's Kitchen, at Race and Colfax is one of four establishments created by the late Pete Cantos: Satire Lounge, Pete's Kitchen, Pete's University Park Cafe, and Pete's Central One.

In many towns and cities across Colorado during the summer, you're going to find some sort of road construction going on. Things that have to be completed before winter arrives and makes things much to difficult. Also much too difficult: Being a small business in the area of construction.

Get our free mobile app

I live in Downtown Loveland, where in the summer of 2025, the city was about halfway through a revitalization project: tearing up a major street in Downtown to replace infrastructure; in the end it would have new pipes, a new street, and new sidewalks. In the meantime, many of the businesses along that street suffered to stay afloat.

In October of 2024, the City of Denver broke ground on its $280 Denver Metro Bus Rapid Transit Project, spanning about four miles along Colfax. Within that four miles, lies Pete's Kitchen.

In mid-August of 2025, Westword reported that Pete's Kitchen was all but pleading for people to patronize the diner, and other businesses in the area of the project, in fear that it might have to close.

I, for one, am one hoping that Pete's makes it through its struggles.