Denvers Annies Cafe and Bar on Colfax will close summer after building sold to the Spice Room

After five months up in the air, the future of Annie’s Cafe is at least partially decided.

If you go

Annie’s will remain open likely through July 31 at 3100 E. Colfax Ave. The restaurant is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. More information at 303-355-8197 and annies-cafe.com.

The beloved all-day breakfast restaurant that has operated on East Colfax Avenue for 14 years will close by the end of July when its lease is up, owner Peggy Anderson told The Denver Post on Wednesday.

“The building sold, and the people that bought the building are putting in a new restaurant,” Anderson said. “We had considered (buying) it, but we don’t have that deep of pockets.”

The 5,500-square-foot commercial building and parking lot at 3100 E. Colfax Ave. sold in mid-April for almost $2 million. BusinessDen was first to report the news on Wednesday.

The restaurant space’s new owners also own Spice Room on 38th Avenue. Since that small North Denver bistro opened in 2017, it has built a following for its menu of chaats, curries and more Indian specialties, including many vegan options.

Annie’s celebrated 40 years in business last summer. The restaurant first opened in 1981 on Denver’s Colorado Boulevard before moving to its current Colfax location in 2008. Now Anderson, her sister Mary Meggitt and niece Lucy Meggitt will search for Annie’s third Denver home.

“We don’t want to go too far away because we’ve got good business right in these neighborhoods,” Anderson said. “So we’d like to stay fairly close, but we’re open (to options).”

Anderson, who recently turned 70, will take the sale and impending move as an opportunity to (mostly) retire. She says her sister and niece will spearhead the effort to move Annie’s into its next phase.

“Lucy is 28, which is interesting because that’s (about) how old I was when I started Annie’s,” Anderson said. “And Mary has been managing the restaurant for 40 years.”

She’s excited for Annie’s to hit refresh, to a degree, with the next generation of family ownership. But she assures diners and fans that most of the current space’s tchotchkes and memorabilia will be moving with the business. And whatever can’t fit will be auctioned, Anderson imagines.

“It’s bittersweet for me, because I’ve raised my family here,” she said. “This is my life. However, I think it’s very exciting for Annie’s to be invigorated.”

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