Humboldt Kitchen + Bar Closing August 26 After Ten Years in Uptown

Owned by Concept Restaurants, Inc. from Old Chicago founder Frank Day, the space was once home to the legendary eatery Strings.

By Molly Martin

August 18, 2023

Humboldt opened in 2013. Humboldt/Instagram

Audio By Carbonatix

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2",
          
          "watchElement": ".fdn-content-body",
          "astAdList": [
            {
              "adType": "rectangle",
              "displayTargets": "mobile"
            }
          ]
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1",
          
          "watchElement": ".fdn-content-body",
          "astAdList": [
            {
              "adType": "rectangleLeft",
              "displayTargets": "desktop|tablet"
            },{
              "adType": "rectangleRight",
              "displayTargets": "desktop|tablet|mobile"
            }
          ]
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25,
          
          "watchElement": ".fdn-content-body",
          "astAdList": [
            {
              "adType": "rectangleLeft",
              "displayTargets": "desktop|tablet"
            },{
              "adType": "rectangleRight",
              "displayTargets": "desktop|tablet|mobile"
            }
          ]
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25,
          
          "watchElement": ".fdn-content-body",
          "astAdList": [
            {
              "adType": "leaderboardInlineContent",
              "displayTargets": "desktop|tablet"
            },{
              "adType": "tower",
              "displayTargets": "mobile"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]

On August 8, Humboldt Kitchen + Bar, which opened in 2013 at 1700 Humboldt Street, announced that it would be closing in early September. But now that date has been pushed up to August 26.

The eatery is owned by Concept Restaurants, Inc., the company founded by Frank Day. He's an industry veteran who's the founder of Old Chicago, among other projects. But even having a hospitality powerhouse behind it didn't make Humboldt immune to the challenges of the industry.

"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," Humboldt posted in an Instagram announcement of the initial closing news.

In a follow-up post on August 17, Humboldt added: "While we had hoped to continue dining service through early September, regretfully, we are unable to continue fully staffing the restaurant to provide the exceptional food and service that Humboldt Kitchen + Bar is known for. We will be closing our doors on Saturday, August 26 at 11 p.m. We truly appreciate all the support from our neighborhood and the Denver community over the years. We invite you to join us for lunch or dinner before our closing date to say farewell."

Humboldt had big shoes to fill when it opened a decade ago. For 27 years, the space had been home to Strings, a beloved eatery that closed following the death of founder Noel Cunningham. When it debuted in that spot, Humboldt, which originally had the tag "Farm. Fish. Wine," garnered a lot of buzz. After that, it settled into its role as a comfortable neighborhood spot, known for various specials like $2 oyster nights and a solid weekday happy hour.

If you're hungry for a final taste of Humboldt's fare, it will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. this Friday and next, 10 to 11 p.m. this Saturday and next, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. this Sunday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday; its last day is Saturday, August 26.

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Westword has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.

Molly Martin has been the Food & Drink editor at Westword since 2021. Prior to joining the staff, Molly reported on the Denver dining scene for more than a decade and contributed to Thrillist. At Westword, Molly monitors restaurant openings and closings, offers dining recommendations and reports on Denver-area food news and trends. She also publishes such annual lists as Top 100 Bars and Top 100 Restaurants, and contributes to the yearly Best of Denver edition. In 2023, she was recognized with the Colorado Restaurant Association's Outstanding Media Professional award.

Contact: Molly Martin

Follow:

Instagram: @mollydbu