Construction permit and liquor license application on file at 3350 N Brighton Blvd
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Overview
Updated 1 hour agoDenver has cleared Mexican restaurant El Chingon to operate at 3350 N Brighton Blvd, Unit 105, in the River North (RiNo) neighborhood. A construction permit for a tenant finish is dated July 17, 2026, and a liquor license application for the space appeared on the city's open-data list September 3, 2026.
The space is part of The Source Hotel, where owner Lorenzo Nuñez Jr. signed a 10-year lease in 2025. It's the latest stop in a saga that brought three closures: an outgrown bungalow, a tax seizure, and a kitchen fire.
Why it matters
A beloved local taqueria's fate reflects the pressure on Denver's independent restaurants: taxes, fires, and rising costs.
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People Involved
Organizations Involved
Denver Mexican restaurant known for Mexico City-style carnitas and elevated tacos.
The municipal government that regulates Denver restaurant construction and alcohol licensing.
Boutique hotel and food hall at 3330 Brighton Blvd in Denver's RiNo neighborhood.
Timeline
March 2010 September 2026
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Liquor license application appears on city list
Latest LicensingA hotel-restaurant liquor license for 3350 N Brighton Blvd Unit 105 appeared as pending on Denver's open-data list.
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Construction permit filed for new space
PermitDenver recorded a commercial alteration/tenant finish permit for 3350 N Brighton Blvd Unit 105.
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Signs 10-year lease at The Source Hotel
LeaseNuñez signed a 10-year lease for a 3,100-square-foot space at The Source Hotel in RiNo, bringing in Josh Beausang as partner.
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DIA location opens
ExpansionLicensed El Chingon opened in Denver International Airport's new United B concourse expansion, operated by Tastes DEN JV.
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Kitchen fire shuts Santa Fe service
IncidentGrease buildup behind a decades-old hood ignited a week into service. No injuries, but the space was unusable.
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Takes over El Noa Noa's Santa Fe space
ExpansionTook over the 722 N. Santa Fe Dr. space, where El Noa Noa had run for 45 years.
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State seizes LoHi location over back taxes
FinancialColorado seized the 1691 Central St location over $44,000 in back taxes. Nuñez said he resolved the debt immediately.
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Reopens in LoHi with larger space
OpeningEl Chingon reopened at 1691 Central St with 70 seats and a 50-seat patio.
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Closes Tennyson Street location
ClosureRestaurant closed after eight years, saying the 38-seat space could no longer support growth.
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Moves to Tennyson Street bungalow
RelocationEl Chingon moved to a 38-seat converted bungalow at 4326 N. Tennyson St. in Berkeley.
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El Chingon opens in Arvada strip mall
OpeningLorenzo Nuñez Jr., his mother Gloria, and nephew David Lopez launched the restaurant in an Arvada strip mall.
Historical Context
2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
El Noa Noa (1979-2024)
El Noa Noa served Mexican food at 722 N. Santa Fe Dr. in Denver for 45 years before closing. El Chingon took over the space in June 2024, and a kitchen fire broke out a week into service.
El Chingon's Santa Fe run lasted weeks before the grease-fire shutdown.
The Santa Fe location has yet to find a lasting successor to the 45-year institution.
Shows how even Denver's most beloved and longest-running Mexican restaurants can end abruptly, and that successors face a hard road.
Northside Eatery + Market (2020-2021)
Northside Eatery + Market opened at 1691 Central St in LoHi and closed after about a year of operation. El Chingon moved in and opened in August 2022.
The LoHi space changed hands again within 18 months.
El Chingon's LoHi run lasted about two years before the state seized the location for back taxes.
The same physical restaurant spaces keep cycling through operators, underscoring the economic pressure on Denver independents.
