Denver, CO
Taco House closing original Denver location after nearly 70 years due to rising costs
DENVER — The iconic Taco House sign has been lighting up South Federal Boulevard since Feb. 1958. But after a nearly 67-year run, it will soon go dark for good.
Owner Greg Risch told Denver7 that the flagship restaurant is closing its doors at the end of December. The owner was emotional as he looked back on 66 years of serving the community.
“It really touches you when that many people you know care, and that’s a big deal in the city,” he said.
Risch said most of his customers are long-time neighbors who continue to show up day after day for decades.
Many life milestones — birthdays, graduations, and remembrances of loved ones — have taken place at Taco House over the years. Of course, the everyday moments made it what it was — a second home for many folks who live nearby.
After much consideration, the decision to shut Taco House on Federal boiled down to rising operating costs.
“It’ll be just sad to shut it down, but we have to. I mean, where the economy is and everything, it’s just — you can’t go on,” said Risch.
Taco House already raised its menu prices once.
“We barely made it through COVID,” Risch said. “Everybody wanted us to go back to all-you-can-eat, [but] we couldn’t do it.”
Risch said he didn’t want to make it any worse for the customers he calls family, especially at a time when many are cutting extra expenses like eating out.
Taco House will keep its Lakewood location open, where operating costs are cheaper.
Business
Denver businesses are leaving South Broadway. What’s pushing them out?
Denver7 reported on multiple businesses across Denver that have shut down or moved out of town, citing similar financial strains over the past few years. Most recently, Denver7 reported on the closures of Señor Burritos and Taco Uprising.
We wanted to know if there were any plans to bring relief to small businesses in Denver, so we reached out to Mayor Mike Johnston. His office issued a statement saying in part, “it’s more important now than ever that the city help protect these businesses. That’s why Mayor Johnston’s 2025 budget includes more than $35 million to support our local business community along with ongoing city programs to make it easier to start and grow a business.”
Full statement:
“Denver’s local businesses are the soul of our community, and Mayor Johnston is deeply committed to helping them thrive. With many Denverites feeling the squeeze of the national economy, it’s more important now than ever that the city help protect these businesses. That’s why Mayor Johnston’s 2025 budget includes more than $35 million to support our local business community along with ongoing city programs to make it easier to start and grow a business. We are proud that Denver remains one of the most business-friendly cities in the state by limiting regulations and increasing city support for business owners. In fact, this year we’ve seen an increase of nearly 2,000 new business licenses compared to 2023, and we’re excited that some of Denver’s favorite small businesses have decided to expand their operations such as Leven and Emilia. We look forward to continuing our work to build a vibrant and thriving local economy.”
Meanwhile, as the original Taco House gets ready to close its doors on South Federal Boulevard, there’s a resolve to continue building the decades-old community, even if it is a few miles away.
“My wife, she says, ‘How do you know everybody?’ They’re just like family. So [it] makes me feel good that I can do that for the community and be well known,” said Risch.
Coloradans making a difference | Denver7 featured videos
Denver7 is committed to making a difference in our community by standing up for what’s right, listening, lending a helping hand and following through on promises. See that work in action, in the videos above.
Watch live newscasts, stream breaking coverage and catch up on the top stories shaping Denver, Boulder, Aurora, Fort Collins and all of Colorado.
Subscribe for:
• Denver breaking news + live updates
• Colorado weather forecasts, snowstorms and severe weather alerts
• Investigations and accountability reporting
• Community stories across the Front Range
• Major events, sports and local explainers
KUSA / 9NEWS Denver — Colorado news and weather, live and on demand.
🔗 More: https://www.9news.com
DENVER — More than 24 hours after the United States and Israel attacked Iran, Coloradans are continuing to express their feelings about what the attack means not only for the world, but here in our state.
For the second straight day, Coloradans expressed their opinions on the steps of the state Capitol about the attack by the US and Israel on Iran.
But instead of anger, as was the case on Saturday, the tone on Sunday was more cheerful.
“Today it’s a celebration about like getting our freedom back, and we would love to have people to be happy with us,” said Forzun Yalme, who helped organize the event with Free Iran Colorado.
For some Iranian-Americans, the news of the attack brings a new sense of hope that freedom is near.
“For me to be Iranian-American, in 47 years here, I learned about democracy and human rights and what I like,” detailed Amir Tosh, another member of Free Iran Colorado. “I want to transfer what your values are for democracy, human rights, freedom to my country, my motherland.”
Denver rally shows divided feelings over U.S.-Israel action against Iran
“My uncle and grandma, grandparents, they were all so happy about what happened, because we can, like, now feel the freedom,” explained Yalme.
But some Iranian-Americans are more cautious.
Colorado’s only Iranian-American state representative, Yara Zokaie, doubts the operation will have a significant impact to Iran’s leadership.
“I’m sympathetic to people who want regime change by any means necessary, but I think we also need to stop and realize what this actually means,” said Zokaie. “Regime change is not something that can happen in one airstrike.”
Zokaie admits she herself was elated to hear Iran’s supreme leader and other top officials were killed in the attack.
But she hopes Coloradans remember the innocent people who have already been killed and those who are more likely to come.
“I ask that we remember the humanity of people in the Middle East as this news unfolds. I ask that we call for a peaceful resolution that we empower Iranian people who will bring change from within, and that we call for no war with Iran,” said Zokaie.
Several people at today’s event at the Capitol approached our Denver7 team. They shared their gratitude for President Donald Trump, the US military, and the Israelis for their action in helping bring freedom to Iran.
They hope others will see that as well. They plan on being here for the next hour and a half or so.
Denver police are looking for information that could help them identify the suspect in a fatal assault overnight.
Officers were called to the scene in the 9700 block of E. Hampden Avenue around 2:08 a.m. They said an injured man at the scene was taken to a hospital for treatment, but he has been pronounced deceased.
DPD says they’re investigating the case as a homicide. They did not provide the identity of the man who was killed or further details on the case.
Police encouraged anyone with information about the attack or the possible suspect(s) involved to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers.
North Carolina primary could mean Roy Cooper vs Michael Whatley in pivotal fall Senate race
Gas prices rise slightly in North Dakota amid Iran conflict
Woman dies after saving grandchild playing in driveway from out-of-control car, Ohio officials say
Oklahoma City police are investigating after a man was shot near Yukon
Iranian in Oregon says he was a political prisoner in his home country
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Trump sends official notification to Congress on strikes against Iran
Unexpected birth brings hope to near-extinct Amazon tribe
Supreme Court blocks redrawing of New York congressional map, dealing a win for GOP
Map: Earthquake Shakes Central California
Gas prices could jump as Middle East tensions threaten global oil supply
-
World5 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts6 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Denver, CO5 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Louisiana1 week agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Technology1 week agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Politics1 week agoOpenAI didn’t contact police despite employees flagging mass shooter’s concerning chatbot interactions: REPORT
-
Technology1 week agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making
-
Oregon4 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling