Denver’s nightlife typically thrives during evening hours, yet on Tuesday, there were early birds gathering in LoDo as bar proprietors shared their thoughts on how the city could maintain safety in that area.
A gathering of approximately 100 tavern proprietors convened for an unprecedented assembly aimed at strengthening and enhancing safety measures in downtown Denver. This inaugural event, titled the “Behind the Bar” downtown Denver bar seminar, was orchestrated by the City of Denver with the intention of bringing local bar professionals together.
Hosnah Safi serves as the COO of HBH Hospitality, managing multiple establishments in LoDo such as El Patio, Jaguar Room, Tony Tenderonis, Rino Country Club, Last Resort, and Gasolina.
Given that I manage a busy, fast-paced bar located in the center of LoDo, security has consistently posed a challenge for us,” Safi stated. “Being a small establishment, we allocate roughly $10,000 per week towards our safety measures.
As Denver concludes a $175 million construction initiative on the 16th Street Mall,
launches campaigns
To encourage people to return to downtown, ensuring safety remains the primary focus, despite crime statistics indicating that the area is now much safer compared to the past.
Commander Kimberly Bowser heads the newly established Downtown Division of the Denver Police Department. Despite having additional officers on patrol, she seeks input from bar proprietors regarding their preferences. These may include increased lighting in parking areas, extended opening times, and enhanced facilities for customer convenience.
Partnership and prevention will be at the core of this initiative,” Bowser stated. “Our aim is to develop these connections. Additionally, we plan to offer certain resources. If we collaborate towards a shared objective, I believe the result could lead to a safer and more sustainable community for everybody.
The modifications implemented in downtown Denver are proving effective. This year, the city has seen over a 50% reduction in homicides compared to last year; however, many people still believe that crime rates have risen.
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Murders have noticeably decreased in Denver and Aurora at the beginning of 2025, contrary to what people believe.
“We must undertake this task today as we have committed $175 million to the mall development. We’ve also completed extensive restructuring of our police force. However, ensuring that local enterprises downtown understand their significant investment and can swiftly access every resource required is why we’re taking action now,” stated Denver City Council member Chris Hinds.
Currently, Denver bars shut their doors at 2 a.m. Some believe that extending operating hours to 4 a.m., as seen in numerous other urban areas, could lead patrons to exit gradually over time rather than en masse. However, such an adjustment requires altering state legislation. In response, Mayor Mike Johnston informed bar proprietors today that he is willing to collaborate with state legislators to advocate for this modification.
Aside from the incidents that occur, they predominantly take place between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., typically on Fridays or Saturdays,” Johnston stated. “There’s an influx of people, largely non-residents of Denver, coming in for their evening out and often consuming excessive amounts of alcohol or getting involved in altercations.
Johnston stated that addressing these issues begins with talking to the individuals who encounter them daily.
Safi stated, “I wish there was an answer to stop all this violence.” He believed it didn’t come from just one source. That’s why they were gathered together as a group, he explained, aiming to discover actions each person could take.
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