The crowd campaign aims to preserve the oldest concert venue in Denver

DENVER – For decades, there was a familiar roar between race and wine streets on Colbox Avenue in central Denver after dark.

“This is Lions Lair for 63 years,” said Doug Kaufman, co-owner of Lions Lair. “long time.”

The history of the intimate concert hall is even longer.

“As far as I can tell from the 40s,” Kaufman said.

This is the first jazz club.

“There were endless jazz artists here,” Kaufman said. “Including Dexter Garden and Clark Terry.”

The place is home to famous musicians and now some modern bands.

“The Black Keys, December, Osomadly, Mojo Nixon,” Kaufman said.

Kaufman believes this king of the Denver music scene may have the oldest liquor license of all the city’s concerts.

“I can’t think of anywhere else because El Chabuldebek is closing,” he said. “Liquor licenses are numbered, one of the oldest liquor licenses in the Colbox. They have no records yet, so they could not find it in the Excise and Licensing Office.”

Boy does the place have a history? Some believe that this hiding place is haunted.

“The demons of the old Jasmines, the demons of the old order,” Kaufman said. “You come here and you get a few drinks. You can start imagining them, you never know. It might be real.”

Like other live music venues, the COVID crisis has silenced the Lion’s roar of late.

“It has been closed for eight months,” Kaufman said. “It simply came to our notice then. In fact, it is. It’s not like its old self. ”

Despite the landowner’s patience and uncertainty, Kaufman and one of his staff decided to start. GoFundMe campaign A few days ago.

“A lot of people have come out of the woodwork,” Kaufman said.

He and his business partner are completely blown away by the support.

“It took all of us by surprise,” Kaufman said.

More than 350 donors and as of Wednesday evening.

“Small size, big size,” Kaufman said. “This place makes a lot of sense to a lot of communities here.”

They have raised nearly 000 16,000 so far. Those in our community who respect this cultural icon. Goalbox ‘King’ if you will.

“We thank everyone,” Kaufman said. “It simply came to our notice then. I hope it happens. “