Denver’s Nativ Hotel & Gatsby Social shuts down following failed inspections

A prominent Denver hotel and nightclub shut down over the weekend after city officials suspended its licenses, citing repeated failed inspections and violations of a stop-work order.

The city took action on April 10, suspending the liquor, food, lodging and cabaret licenses for the Nativ Hotel & Gatsby Social following multiple failed inspections by the Denver Fire Department, the Denver Police Department and the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.

This is only the second summary suspension of a liquor license by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection in Denver since 2023.

“This is the most severe immediate licensing discipline action the city can take against a business,” said Eric Escudero, director of communications for Denver Licensing and Consumer Protection, in an email to The Post.

“It is only used in very rare circumstances when there is the most severe threat to safety because of alleged law violations.”

An investigation by the fire department revealed that Corporate Housing on Wazee LLC, doing business as Nativ Hotel & Gatsby Social, has a history of fire code violations dating back to Jan. 7, 2025, according to the suspension order.

Although the property, 1612 Wazee St., had undergone multiple inspections since that time, a group inspection was conducted on Feb. 24 involving the fire, police and licensing departments.

That inspection uncovered numerous violations of fire and conveyance codes, deeming the property “unsafe for occupancy.” Most significantly, inspectors determined that the fire alarm system was not being monitored and had recorded 14 internal failure signals, including a notification failure.

As a result, the system did not alert any third-party central station or Denver Fire Dispatch when the alarm was activated.

The inspection also identified several additional violations, including a faulty fire alarm control system, ingress/egress blockages, sprinkler system violations, signage violations, breaches of fire-rated construction, fire doors propped open, improperly maintained and mounted fire extinguishers, corridor and stair blockages and improper propane storage. 

As a result of the inspection, the fire department issued a stop-work order, requiring the building to be vacated immediately.

Property owner Thierry Rignol was given time to address the violations and was issued a 30-day fire watch permit, which allowed only the hotel to remain open under strict monitoring with qualified personnel on site.

By March 6, some corrections had been completed, but a follow-up fire department inspection found multiple violations remained, leading the city to cite Rignol for more than 840 violations

The fire watch permit expired on March 26, and the stop-work order once again prohibited the operation of the bar/nightclub and hotel.

Despite the order, the suspension document said Denver police observed the property operating as a bar and nightclub and continued to admit patrons between April 3 and the early hours of April 5.

In addition, during the early morning hours of April 4, Denver police officers responded to a felony menacing incident outside the premises. A patron who had been removed returned with a firearm and threatened security guardss.

The police department’s media relations team told The Post that officers were also dispatched around 1:51 a.m. on April 5 to a reported assault in the 1600 block of Wazee Street. A patron was found unconscious and injured on the sidewalk in front of the premises. That case remains under investigation.

“The Denver Police Department will respectfully decline commenting on this situation, given the pending action by Licensing and Consumer Protection,” the department said.

The city began receiving community complaints about the business in 2024 when it operated under the tradename Hotel Nativ.

Rignol was formally notified of the suspension on Friday. The hotel was then given 48 hours to shut down operations so guests could be notified, and the nightclub has since closed, according to the city.

Mark Ivanyo, managing partner at the Texas-based Ivanyo Law Office, represents Rignol.

He said the fire alarm panel cited in the city’s order had been replaced several weeks before its April 13 inspection, and that the system has since been installed, tested and is now fully operational. At the same time, he said the fire department issued a written inspection report confirming the system’s installation and testing, lifting the stop-work order at the property.

“The property is currently in an active compliance process, with any remaining items limited to permitting and final acceptance steps that are in progress. Earlier reporting has referenced aggregate violation figures that do not reflect how those figures are calculated or the actual number of distinct issues identified,” Ivanyo said.

“The company is continuing to work with all relevant authorities and regulators to address any outstanding matters and hopes to resume operations as soon as that process is complete.”

The business will be required to appear before a city hearing officer, where it will have an opportunity to contest the suspension.

Get more business news by signing up for our On The Block newsletter.