Nestled between Walgreens and EOD Tattoo on Colfax Avenue is the seeming hole-in-the-wall joint, Lion’s Lair. With its faded blue brick walls, retro thick glass windows and sticker speckled exterior, it may appear to be another run-down dive bar in Denver.
This is far from the case. The pandemic nearly forced the one-of-a-kind bar out of business, and it would have if not for the community that saved it. Here is what you need to know about this Denver landmark:
1. The bar has an extensive history
Long before the club was bought out by its namesake John Lyons, the location possessed a variety of identities. The venue has a long history dating back to the 1920s.
Founder of the Colfax Museum and local musician Jonny Barber noted that the building’s earliest record is from 1926. The land that the Lair is on—like much of Colfax—was made up of Victorian mansions, and Ed Chase, the gambling kingpin of Denver, owned one such property.
During its earlier years, the building was used for businesses ranging from an auto shop to a women’s clothing store. It was even once a bar named the Skol Inn. About a decade before becoming the Lion’s Lair, the location operated as a jazz bar known as The Playboy Lounge in the 1950s.
“In 1967, the Playboy Club was started by Hugh Hefner at the Warwick Hotel in Denver. When plans for the new club were being made, this building was called the Playboy Lounge, so Playboy paid the owner 5,000 dollars to change the name,” Barber explained. The name was changed to The Playroom, then The Aladdin Lounge. In 1972, it became the Lyon’s Lair after new owner John Lyons. In 1974, it became the Lion’s Lair known today.
2. The lounge has housed iconic acts
“What I really like is that it’s the kind of place where you could experiment…They expected you to bring your original music, and it’s been home to all kinds of famous underground figures like John Doe from X,” Barber said. Famous musicians such as Jonathan Richman, Jello Biafra and Mike Watt have also made appearances on the Lion’s Lair stage.
Barber called the club, “the CBGBs of Denver,” as “it has been home to punk rock and alternative bands…anything that is off the beaten path, experimental or avant-garde.”
The Lair has also been the scene for locals to get their start. “It’s the oldest live entertainment venue in Denver. I don’t think there is any place that has been doing live entertainment longer than the Lion’s Lair,” Doug Kauffman, co-owner of the bar, expressed.
3. The Lair is more than just a live music venue
They may have a mere 2,200 square feet of space, but the Lion’s Lair packs an amount of entertainment that far exceeds its surface area. Kauffman explained that the club used to have a packed schedule of comedy shows, open mic nights and live music events, which came to a halt when the club had to close due to the pandemic.
The Lion’s Lair held happy hours where members of the community could enjoy themselves and the company of others. “It is a relaxing place to go, not a lot of pretentiousness to it. It is a laid back place, good for people to go and socialize with each other between bands,” Kauffman said.
Although live music is most certainly at the heart of the establishment, the Lair’s events and full bar provide a location for connection over shared laughs and drinks. Barber even recounted a time when Joe Strummer of The Clash stopped by to share a drink and talk with locals, evidence of the allure the club possesses.
4. There is more than meets the eye in this community
Although the venue is made up of a small staff, this year, a mass of people have stood behind the Lair. “It is unique in the community, so there is a certain comradery in a place like that,” Kauffman said. A GoFundMe page was launched to raise money for the Lair in the wake of the pandemic, and it raised $33,687 as of Feb. 4.
“It is a very beloved bar; it is a legendary, iconic space on Colfax. I really hope it will survive, and I feel like it will,” Barber said.
5. There’s a clear future in store for the club
With venues closed due to COVID-19, the main source of income for musicians has taken a hit.
“The pandemic has affected me as a musician because open mics are closed, my social network is a lot more narrow and obviously shows aren’t happening,” Alex Snyder, keyboardist for Fat Brando, said. “It is an emotional hit. We have day jobs to get by, but not being able to perform live has affected our identities as performing musicians.”
The pandemic has forced the music scene into a dark corner of the world, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Kauffman expressed that there is a clear future in sight for the legendary venue.
“We want to get back to business as usual where the club is booked a couple of months in advance and we are back to full capacity. The place is very self-sufficient, as we usually have a full schedule,” Kauffman explained. “For sure, we will eventually be back open.”
The pandemic has presented many challenges for the Denver music scene, but the Lions Lair’s resilience has proved to some the importance of live music. “Hopefully, missing it will get people to understand how much this means to them and remember that when we get back up and running, [they must] support local artists and independent musicians,” Barber said.
To support the Lion’s Lair, visit their GoFundMe page and follow their Instagram @lion_lair_denver for updates on their reopening and scheduled events.
