Denver, CO
Real estate commissions, unassailable for decades, could crumble after landmark settlement
The National Association of Realtors announced Friday that it had reached a legal settlement that upends the traditional model of sellers paying for the buyer’s agent in a home purchase. The agreement has the potential to save home sellers billions of dollars every year, but could also complicate purchases for buyers.
The NAR, the largest trade group representing residential real estate agents, agreed to pay $418 million over four years to settle claims that the group and its members engaged in uncompetitive practices that forced sellers to compensate agents who brought buyers to the closing table.
“There are valid positions on both sides, and this is the way the game has been played,” said Mark Lee Levine, a professor at the Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management at the University of Denver who has tracked the issue closely.
Starting in July, the game will be played differently. Buyers can no longer count on sellers paying the agents representing them, Levine said. On a $600,000 home, that could shift around $15,000 to $18,000 in typical commission costs back to the buyer.
Commissions on a home sale are, in theory, completely negotiable, but they typically run in the 5% to 6% range. How commissions get split can vary, but sellers almost always pay the buyer’s agent via what is known as a cooperative compensation model or co-op.
What a seller was willing to pay was communicated on the multiple-listing service or MLS controlled by local Realtor associations. If the compensation was too low or non-existent, buyer agents would pass on showing a home, plaintiffs in a case known as Sitzer-Burnett argued.
Listing the buyer agent compensation is now prohibited as part of the settlement. States must require buyers and their agents to enter into written agreements detailing compensation and what services are provided for it, something Colorado already requires.
Buyers still have the right to push for a lower commission, as was the case before. But if they know they are footing the bill, they may be much more motivated to do so.
“For far too long, home sellers have faced a system recognized by many as blatantly unfair. Individual sellers often feel powerless to negotiate a better deal for themselves given the risk that offering lower commissions will cause brokers to steer buyers to other properties,” Robert Braun, a partner in Cohen Milstein’s Antitrust practice, and one of the attorneys that led the case against NAR said in a statement.
Technology has lowered or eliminated commissions across wide parts of the economy, from stock brokerages to travel agencies. But they largely remained unassailable in real estate until a jury ruled against the industry last year. A series of settlements have followed that ruling.
Friday’s settlement resolves claims against NAR and its more than 1 million members, and against regional and local Realtor associations, including the Colorado Association of Realtors and the Denver Metro Association of Realtors. The settlement also shields brokerages run by a NAR member that did $2 billion or less in transactions in 2022 in the case, sparing them the cost of extensive litigation.
“We are pleased we have a solid path forward. We know how to move forward now. We are looking forward to going back and selling,” said Libby Levinson-Katz, head of DMAR’s Market Trends Committee.
Although the heavy weight of litigation in the Sitzer case has been lifted, what comes next is uncertain.
Will sellers and buyers, aided by cost-saving technology, push to lower some of the highest real estate transaction costs in the developed world? Will the real estate brokerage industry, already struggling from higher interest rates, suffer another steep drop in revenues, forcing tens of thousands of agents out of the field? Will buyers get a break via lower home prices to cover their added costs, or will sellers pocket the savings, leaving buyers in the lurch?
“NAR has worked hard for years to resolve this litigation in a manner that benefits our members and American consumers. It has always been our goal to preserve consumer choice and protect our members to the greatest extent possible. This settlement achieves both of those goals,” said Nykia Wright, NAR’s interim CEO in a release.
One by one large brokerage firms have settled in the case, the most recent being Keller Williams, which reached a $70 million agreement in February. HomeServices of America, whose brands include Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Kentwood Real Estate, remains a holdout.
Listing agents and buyer agents can still communicate directly about commissions and sellers can still pick up those costs. Sellers might do that if they think it will generate more interest in their listings or set them apart. But not every seller will agree, and a buyer may be set on owning that house.
That is where things get more complicated. The agreement a buyer has signed with the agent will then leave the bill for services rendered on the buyer’s table. Buyers, already stretched to come up with down payments and escrow costs, not to mention elevated home prices, may lack the funds, killing a deal. Or their agents might agree to take a smaller cut.
“We shouldn’t have been fighting over the commissions. We should have been fighting to serve our customers better,” said Bret Weinstein, founder of Guide Realty in Glendale.
Weinstein said becoming a real estate agent comes with a low bar of entry. Most who get in do a minimal number of transactions, if any, in a given year. And horror tales abound of unaware consumers in the hands of unskilled agents.
“It will shake up the industry,” he said of the changes coming. “One day there will be an exodus of people leaving.”
Buyer agents who remain will pursue different models, he predicted. One camp will offer high-level service from skilled negotiators who can justify their costs. That is one reason top-performing agents aren’t fearful of what comes next, he said.
At the other end will be agents offering a lower level of services in return for discounted commissions. Expect more technology firms to emerge that will try to automate the buying process or lower costs in other ways.
Levine offers another scenario, one where consumers continue to do the legwork in researching neighborhoods and finding a place through online resources. They negotiate terms or hire someone to do that. Then a real estate lawyer is brought in to handle the contract and closing. The costs would be lower and the approach might appeal to repeat buyers.
“As of July that co-op is going away. There is no guarantee that a buyer’s agent will get paid,” Weinstein said.
It will be a brave new word for consumers and the real estate industry alike.
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DENVER (AP) — A Frontier Airlines plane hit a pedestrian on the runway of the Denver International Airport during takeoff, airport authorities said, sparking an engine fire and forcing passengers to evacuate.
The plane, on route from Denver to Los Angeles International Airport, “reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday,” the airport’s official X account wrote.
Neither the airport nor the airline has disclosed the pedestrian’s condition.
“We’re stopping on the runway,” the pilot tells the control tower according to the site ATC.com. “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.”
The pilot tells the air traffic controller they have “231 souls” on board and that and “individual was walking across the runway.”
The air traffic controller responds that they are “rolling the trucks now” before the pilot tells the tower they “have smoke in the aircraft. We are going to evacuate on the runway.”
Frontier Airlines said in a statement flight 4345 was the one involved in the collision and that “smoke was reported in the cabin and the pilots aborted takeoff.” It was not clear whether the smoke was linked to the crash with the pedestrian.
“The Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members,” the airline said. “We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities.”
Passengers were then evacuated via slides and the emergency crew bused them to the terminal.
Denver Airport said the National Transportation Safety Board had been notified and that runway 17L, where the incident took place, will remain closed while an investigation is conducted.
There is much to love about the American South. It’s home to some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet, boasts a rich musical history, offers spectacular natural wonders, and just so happens to be the birthplace of some of the most distinctive, storied, and utterly delicious food in the world. It’s so much more than fried chicken, pecan pie, and barbecue — Southern cooking blends together multicultural ingredients, tried-and-true techniques, and recipes passed down through generations, and transforms them into hearty, comforting, heavenly dishes that not only fill the belly, but touch the soul.
When I moved to New Orleans for college after growing up in Northern Minnesota, I became enamored with the tapestry of culture, history, identity, and tradition surrounding Cajun and Creole cuisine, a passion that blossomed into a love for Southern food as a whole. Since moving to Denver in 2018, Southern food has been one of the things I miss the most, and I’m not alone — former residents of Texas, Florida, and Virginia make up a large slice of the Colorado transplant pie, and everybody’s hungry for a taste of home.
Fortunately, there are some stellar down-home restaurants in the greater Denver area if you know where to look. When visions of jambalaya and sweet tea start dancing in your head, and Denver’s sky-high cost of living prohibits you from booking a plane ticket, turn to these eateries for Southern staples right here in the Mile High City.
Rougarou
Once upon a time, the Rougarou — a chupacabra-esque creature born of Louisiana’s sprawling, ethereal swamplands — was a ghost story used to spook children. Today, the mythical beast shares a name with one of Denver’s hottest new Southern restaurants: Rougarou is an upscale eatery helmed by Mary Allison Wright and McLain Hedges, the power couple behind the James Beard award-winning Yacht Club. Rougarou executes its “shapeshifting Southern” tagline through innovative, upscale takes on classic Southern cooking. It’s like eating at meemaw’s house with your “Top Chef”-obsessed cousin helping in the kitchen.
Think boiled peanuts dolled up with fermented collards, lime leaf, and chile; collard salad with sorghum mustard, apple, cheddar, and fried shallot; and Granddad’s chicken with herbs and white barbecue sauce. The pork shoulder entree is a champion: glazed in sorghum-tamarind sauce, finished with chow chow, and served on a bed of fluffy Missimati rice, it falls apart at the slightest touch.
The bar menu is a testament to the Wright-Hedges crew’s mixology prowess. It features avant-garde drinks, such as the pleasantly briny muffaletta martini (gin, fino sherry, olives, and benne seed), the fruity mai tai supreme (rum, curaçao, and madeira wine blend with lime juice and almonds), and the classic vieux tomate (tequila, vin jaune, bitter citrus, and sun-dried tomato).
lerougarou.com
2844 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205
Mama Jo’s Chicken, Biscuits, & BBQ
Mama Jo’s Chicken, Biscuits, & BBQ was inspired by a wedding in North Carolina with a glorious pig roast and BBQ reception banquet that Ben and Jodi Polson just couldn’t forget. That fond memory spurred the Polsons to build a pig roast spit in their backyard, which spiraled into hosting Southern food pop-ups under the name Mama Jo’s, launching a food truck in 2021, and finally, opening a brick-and-mortar location in 2025.
Wholesome family recipes made from scratch led Mama Jo’s to quickly become one of Denver’s best BBQ restaurants, with pulled pork, smoked sausages, and pork ribs (or jackfruit for the veggie gourmand) fit for a king — but the party doesn’t stop at barbecue. As the moniker promises, chicken and biscuits also play starring roles on the menu. The pièce de résistance is arguably the Nashville hot chicken sandwich, which won Westword’s best fried chicken biscuit on wheels award in 2024. The celebrated sammy involves breaded chicken fried in a special Nashville hot oil, slapped on a decadent, flaky biscuit, and dressed with creamy coleslaw, crunchy house-made pickles, and drizzled with Alabama white sauce.
Choose from sides like pimento mac and cheese, BBQ-loaded tot-chos, or zesty collard greens with bacon to round out the meal, and don’t forget to snag a banana pudding pie for dessert.
mamajobiscuits.com
(303) 333-7627
3525 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
Sassafras American Eatery
Sassafras American Eatery has been slinging some of the Mile High City’s best Southern food for nearly 15 years, a title cemented with a best Southern restaurant award from Westword in 2020. Primarily known for stellar breakfast and brunch, Sassafras’s sizable menu kicks off with tantalizing appetizers: beignets (classic or churro-style), fried green tomatoes, and deviled eggs with smoked tomato jam are the way to go. Brunch options range from a lighter fresh fruit, granola, and yogurt parfait to shrimp and grits with andouille sausage to vanilla berry Belgium waffles. Take your pick of four versions of eggs Benedict (the roasted toasted mushroom Benny is *chef’s kiss*). And the star of the “Sassafras Signatures” menu section has to be the chicken pimento biscuit, with house-made pimento cheese, pickles, poached eggs, duck fat country gravy, and barbecue sauce.
If you’re a brunch cocktail aficionado, this is the place to be. There’s a fantastic hodgepodge of innovative takes on mimosas, as well as an assortment of signature bloody marys crafted with Sassafras’ from-scratch mix.
Feeling more lunch-forward? A roast beef po’boy, red beans and rice, or one of seven mac and cheese options should hit the spot. Sassafras serves dinner Thursday through Saturday only — worth checking out for classics like Southern poutine, pork belly with cornbread stuffing, and chicken and andouille gumbo.
sassafrasamericaneatery.com
(303) 327-9061
3927 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80212
Revival Denver Public House
Revival Denver Public House opened on buzzing 17th Street in 2021. It quickly became a neighborhood favorite with effortlessly cool, artsy vibes, frequent live music events, springtime crawfish boils, killer deals, and Colorado-driven takes on Southern cuisine. While not strictly a Southern restaurant, the influence of Southern cooking is undeniable on Revival’s bill of fare. Owner Dan Vizzard and his team infuse down-home classics with a teaspoon of Colorado pizzazz, resulting in mouthwatering dishes that feel comfortably familiar, yet sophisticated.
Buffalo gumbo is the perfect example. Louisiana gumbo that swaps out the traditional chicken or shrimp in favor of beer-braised bison, poblano peppers, and smoked sausage. Fried catfish and grits, red beans and rice, and sweet heat pickled shrimp are excellent, and we named the Flatliner sandwich (fried chicken thigh, sharp American cheese, bacon jam, fried pickles, and “Revival sauce”) one of the best restaurant dishes we ate in 2023.
Now, Revival is one of the pricier options on this list. But you can find deals such on wings and oysters (opt for the chorizo butter) on Mondays, burgers on Wednesdays, and happy hour specials, like the famous Old Fashioned for $5 as of this writing, every day but Sunday.
revival-denver.com
(720) 524-7867
630 E 17th Ave, Denver, CO 80203
Lucile’s Creole Cafe
A restaurant that’s been in business for over 45 years is doing something right. Lucile’s Creole Cafe was established in Boulder in 1980 and now boasts seven restaurants around Colorado, including two in Denver proper (one on South Logan, the other on East Evans). Lucile’s first head chef trained at NOLA’s Commander’s Palace (which is worth visiting), and each location manages to capture the sights, sounds, and flavors of New Orleans. Mardi gras beads, masks, and gator heads line the walls, Zydeco and jazz music float through the dining rooms, and the menu is ripe with Creole and Cajun cuisine.
Set the vibe with a café au lait or chicory coffee, or dive into the deep end with mimosas, Bloody Marys, and Sazeracs. Lucile’s beignets are some of the best in town, fried fresh to order, and replete with Cafe du Monde-level powdered sugar quantities. Eggs Pontchartrain puts a Colorado spin on a NOLA classic by swapping out traditional fried oysters for fresh mountain trout. Appease both your sweet and savory tooth with pain perdu, NOLA-style French toast topped with hot sausage, egg, praline syrup, and fresh fruit.
Eggs New Orleans (eggs Benedict with fried eggplant in place of the typical Canadian bacon) is a stellar veggie offering, and if you’re in more of a lunch mood, the andouille po’boy and Zydeco salad are top-tier.
luciles.com
Multiple locations
NOLA Voodoo Tavern
Southern hospitality is a phrase for a reason. Southerners are some of the friendliest, most welcoming folks around, and that’s exactly what New Orleans-born-and-raised Henry Batiste strove to accomplish when opening NOLA Voodoo Tavern in Denver’s historic Cole neighborhood in 2015. Cajun and Creole bar food (made with recipes passed down from Batiste’s mother and grandmother) is the name of the game. Despite a rather rough exterior, the inside of the Tavern — decked out in New Orleans Saints gear, Abita flags, and wall art depicting the Crescent City — exudes warmth, comfort, and family.
NOLA Voodoo Tavern’s appetizer game is strong. Cajun cheese fries topped with crawfish etouffee are perfect for sharing, while adventurous eaters can try crispy alligator bites or chicken gizzards fried to perfection. Additionally, the sampler trio includes smaller portions of red beans and rice, crawfish etouffee, and Batiste’s mother Vivian’s stupendous gumbo.
The muffaletta is divine, as well. It has ham, salami, and provolone in melty layers offset by a zesty scratch-made olive salad mix on a toasted bun, along with crawfish Monica, which pays homage to New Orleans’s prolific Italian population. Crack open an Abita beer (or go for the Hurricane), nosh on a surf and turf po’boy with a bag of Zapps, and laissez les bons temps rouler.
noladenver.com
(720) 389-9544
2222 Bruce Randolph Ave, Denver, CO 80205
Bourbon Grill
Bourbon Grill has been satisfying the taste buds and wallets of savvy Denverites since 2002. Bourbon Grill began as a quick-service restaurant with a walk-up window (and often a line around the corner) before graduating to its current brick-and-mortar location on East Colfax in 2017. It doesn’t look like much, but what this Colfax haunt lacks in aesthetics, it more than makes up for in flavor and affordability. Chef and owner Lien Vo keeps the menu simple.
Customers may order blackened, barbecue, or Vo’s signature bourbon chicken over a bed of rice, or as a combo with two sides for a slightly higher price. It’s a spectacular deal when the mammoth portion sizes are taken into consideration, as Bourbon Grill offers serious bang for your buck. The bourbon chicken has an outrageously juicy texture, gorgeous char, and beautifully balanced sweet and smoky flavor that’ll blow your mind. Timeless soul food sides like mac and cheese, mixed veggies, and sauteed Cajun potatoes transform a simple chicken and rice meal into a decadent Southern feast.
Additionally, Vo honors her Vietnamese heritage with sides of spicy noodles and egg rolls. It’s not necessarily the place to impress out-of-towners or conduct a business meeting, but Bourbon Grill is a fantastic spot for authentic Southern food in Denver without breaking the bank.
bourbongrilltogo.com
(303) 355-3821
571 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203
NoNo’s Cafe
Nestled in the Denver suburb of Littleton is NoNo’s Cafe. This little restaurant serves up big, bold, Cajun and Creole flavors guaranteed to have you crying “YesYes.” Louisiana natives Brian and Sonda Brewster moved to Colorado and opened up NoNo’s in 1996, settling on NoNo — a Louisiana colloquialism meaning grandfather — as a nod to the beloved family patriarch (who was the source of many of the recipes that grace NoNo’s menu).
The owners keep things fresh with a features menu that changes every few weeks, highlighting specials like blackened crab-stuffed quesadillas, mango chicken on coconut rice pilaf, and chicken pot pie. The signature menu is substantial and showcases a mix of New Orleans-forward cuisine and cozy comfort foods. Cajun egg rolls, stuffed with Tasso ham, chicken, cabbage, and rice, are perfectly fried and served with Cajun island dressing. You can grab a cup of shrimp bisque to accompany a crispy chicken salad or hot sausage po’boy.
Dishes like Monica-smothered catfish, crab meat au gratin, and BBQ shrimp are an excellent way to hit the spot after a day of hiking. Not in the mood for soul food? NoNo’s has you covered with a wide selection of pasta, burgers, and sides; plus, the Big Easy breakfast burrito is grab-and-go perfection. NoNo’s is also a prime pick for springtime crawfish boils – slots fill up quickly, so be sure to make a reservation.
nonoscafe.com
(303) 738-8330
3005 W County Line Rd, Littleton, CO 80129
Nola Jane Restaurant & Bar
Whether you’re specifically on the hunt for Southern fare or simply looking for a satiating bite around downtown Denver’s Market Street, Nola Jane is the place to be on a Friday night. Nola Jane took over the space formerly occupied by Pour House in 2021, and despite its relatively new status, the restaurant was quick to win over Mile High City diners.
Considered one of Denver’s best-loved Southern hotspots, it was crowned as Westword’s Best Southern/Soul Restaurant in 2021, 2022, and 2023, in addition to accolades for its awesome rooftop and patio. Plus, since Denver isn’t the best place to be if you’re a late night diner, the fact that Nola Jane’s kitchen stays open until midnight on Sundays through Thursdays and 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays is a major selling point. After all, a Abita Purple Haze draft, jalapeño hush puppies, and blackened gator tacos are heavenly after a late Nuggets game.
The debris po’boy — a gargantuan sandwich dripping with melt-in-your-mouth beef simmered in its own juices and homemade gravy — is to die for. The chicken and andouille jambalaya is perfectly balanced, and the eggplant Creole plate is a real treat (pro tip: sub dirty rice for the standard white rice). The space is small and tends to fill up quickly after 10 p.m., especially on weekends. But with Hurricanes and spicy margs on tap, the party never stops at Nola Jane.
nolajanedenver.com
(720) 592-1942
1435 Market St, Denver, CO 80202
Welton Street Cafe
Welton Street Cafe owners Floyd and Mona Dickerson immigrated to the United States from the U.S. Virgin Islands in the 1970s and operated multiple restaurants in the Five Points area before opening Welton Street Cafe in 1999. The original Welton Street Cafe was forced to shutter in 2022, but mercifully, reopened in a larger space just down the street in 2024. The restaurant is flourishing, and the community can’t get enough of the Black-owned family business’s country cooking with Caribbean flair.
Perhaps most notable on the menu is the miscellany of pates, a Caribbean dish you need to try consisting of meat and other fillings in a fried dough pocket. The jerk chicken entree served with cornbread will live in your head rent-free for months. There’s a wide range of burger and sandwich options (the catfish sammy is a classic), and enough sides to craft an entire meal, including Black-eyed peas, mac and cheese, sweet potato fries, and more. A daily rotating Kool-Aid is sure to be a hit for kids and anyone who prefers non-alcoholic beverages, though Welton Street Cafe’s bar menu also includes plenty of beer, wine, and classic cocktails.
weltonstreetcafe.com
(303) 296-6602
2883 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205
Four Friends Kitchen
Four Friends Kitchen came to be when (you guessed it) four friends and neighbors — Genefer and Tim Thornton, and Kurt and Sarah Pletcher — realized Stapleton was sorely lacking in kid-friendly early-morning eateries. The two families joined forces to build Four Friends Kitchen from the ground up, and have been serving delectable contemporary Southern breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch to the community since 2015.
Open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every single day, Four Friends is ideal for the early bird. The kid-friendly promise is maintained, too, by keeping plenty of vintage Etch-a-Sketches and coloring books on hand, as well as an amazing “Little Britches” (kids) menu. For adult patrons, small plates include quintessential country offerings like fried green tomatoes, Creole bread pudding, and beignets with creme anglaise and wild berry preserves. Overnight grits bowls are a standout; gluten-free heirloom grits are cooked overnight for silky-smooth texture, then loaded up with toppings like succulent Gulf shrimp, succotash, spinach, and cheese for a hearty, well-rounded breakfast bowl that explodes with flavor.
On the lunch side, grilled chicken cornbread salad is fantastic for a lighter option, while the Smokey Mountain BLT lends the classic sandwich a Lowcountry touch with crispy fried green tomatoes, smoked cheddar pimento cheese, maple bacon, and a Serrano buttermilk aioli. For solid, dependable Southern food in a family-friendly environment, Four Friends is a hidden gem in the burbs.
fourfriendskitchen.com
(303) 388-8299
2893 Roslyn St, Denver, CO 80238
Methodology
Despite a sizable population of Southern transplants, there aren’t a whole lot of Southern restaurants in Denver. The 11 on this list represent what I believe are the best Southern and soul food restaurants in the city. To make the list, restaurants had to have a Southern and/or soul food focus, justify the price tag (higher stakes for higher-priced restaurants), maintain consistent quality, and — of course — be delicious.
As for the taste factor, I’ve personally visited most of these eateries (I was a regular customer at Revival Denver Public House and Bourbon Grill when I lived in the Uptown neighborhood) and can vouch for the tastiness of the food. The three I have not visited in person — Mama Jo’s Chicken, Biscuits, & BBQ, NoNo’s Cafe, and Four Friends Kitchen — were included based on positive reviews and repeated word-of-mouth recommendations on foodie-dedicated Facebook groups and Reddit threads. Lastly, I wanted to include something for everyone, so this list encompasses a broad spectrum in terms of price points, ambience, and actual cuisine.
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