A corner restaurant property in Congress Park is once again shuttered as the owner of Briar Patch decided to close his bar and grill there after just over a year.
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Briar Patch, the offshoot of Briar Common Brewery + Eatery in Jefferson Park, ended its brunch and dinner service last week, said Amanda Singh, its chef.
The restaurant, at 1222 Madison St., went through several iterations in its short time on the block, starting as a classier concept before Singh arrived and relaxed its menu and appearance in an attempt to get more neighborhood and residential customers.
“At the end of the day, Briar Patch had a good run, and I just don’t think it’s what the community wanted or needed,” Singh said Friday.
She confirmed that a closing statement posted on the front door was written by owner Kent Dawson.
“We failed to attract and compel enough business to match the rising costs to operate a full-service restaurant in Denver,” Dawson’s note, shared online, read. “Despite our efforts to make changes based on guest feedback and our own observations, in an attempt to create a welcoming and casual neighborhood gathering place, we were never able to achieve positive financial results. After 14 months, the cumulative losses have become too substantial.”
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Earlier this month, Briar Patch shared a long message on its Instagram page pleading with the neighborhood for support. It listed its many accommodations and promotions in an attempt to bring in customers, including allowing dogs on the patio and hosting mahjong games and trivia nights.
“They’re really tucked in there,” Singh said about the restaurant’s surroundings and lack of outsider traffic. “If you knew about the area, you knew about the area.”
The address has had a difficult time keeping tenants since TAG Burger Bar closed there in 2012. It had been Billy’s Inn and Crêpes ‘n Crêpes before Briar Patch took over.
Earlier this year, The Denver Post named Briar Patch’s burger as one of the city’s most underrated.
Singh is now executive chef at Barcelona Wine Bar in RiNo, she said.
Dawson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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