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Denver clears El Chingon to open at The Source Hotel in RiNo

Denver clears El Chingon to open at The Source Hotel in RiNo

Built World Denver, CO local

Construction permit and liquor license application on file at 3350 N Brighton Blvd

September 3rd, 2026: Liquor license application appears on city list

Overview

Updated Sep 4

Denver 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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Key Indicators

2
City records on file
Construction permit and pending liquor license for 3350 N Brighton Blvd Unit 105
10
Lease length at The Source Hotel
Ten-year lease signed in 2025 for the new space
$44,000
Back taxes that triggered LoHi seizure
State seized the 1691 Central St location in May 2024; Nuñez said he resolved the debt quickly
16
Years since founding
The restaurant first opened in Arvada in 2010

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

March 2010 September 2026

11 events Latest: September 3rd, 2026 · 1 week ago Showing 8 of 11
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. Liquor license application appears on city list

    Latest Licensing

    A hotel-restaurant liquor license for 3350 N Brighton Blvd Unit 105 appeared as pending on Denver's open-data list.

  2. Construction permit filed for new space

    Permit

    Denver recorded a commercial alteration/tenant finish permit for 3350 N Brighton Blvd Unit 105.

  3. Signs 10-year lease at The Source Hotel

    Lease

    Nuñez signed a 10-year lease for a 3,100-square-foot space at The Source Hotel in RiNo, bringing in Josh Beausang as partner.

  4. DIA location opens

    Expansion

    Licensed El Chingon opened in Denver International Airport's new United B concourse expansion, operated by Tastes DEN JV.

  5. Kitchen fire shuts Santa Fe service

    Incident

    Grease buildup behind a decades-old hood ignited a week into service. No injuries, but the space was unusable.

  6. Takes over El Noa Noa's Santa Fe space

    Expansion

    Took over the 722 N. Santa Fe Dr. space, where El Noa Noa had run for 45 years.

  7. State seizes LoHi location over back taxes

    Financial

    Colorado seized the 1691 Central St location over $44,000 in back taxes. Nuñez said he resolved the debt immediately.

  8. Reopens in LoHi with larger space

    Opening

    El Chingon reopened at 1691 Central St with 70 seats and a 50-seat patio.

  9. Closes Tennyson Street location

    Closure

    Restaurant closed after eight years, saying the 38-seat space could no longer support growth.

  10. Moves to Tennyson Street bungalow

    Relocation

    El Chingon moved to a 38-seat converted bungalow at 4326 N. Tennyson St. in Berkeley.

  11. El Chingon opens in Arvada strip mall

    Opening

    Lorenzo Nuñez Jr., his mother Gloria, and nephew David Lopez launched the restaurant in an Arvada strip mall.

Scenarios

1

El Chingon opens at The Source Hotel before year-end

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: BusinessDen reported the planned reopening at The Source; Denver food media have tracked the restaurant's moves.

The liquor license clears its Denver Department of Excise and Licenses hearing, the tenant finish wraps, and El Chingon starts serving guests at 3350 N Brighton Blvd. Nuñez has said the menu will be a pared-down version of his elevated Mexican fare, with a new agave-heavy cocktail list from partner Josh Beausang.

2

Liquor license hearing hits a snag, delaying opening

Possible Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Denver's liquor licensing process includes public hearings where neighbors and other businesses can formally object.

The license application draws an objection or a scheduling delay at the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses, pushing approval into 2027. The build-out finishes but the space sits dark until the license clears. Opening slips weeks or months past the original target.

3

Financial pressure derails the reopening

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: The restaurant's history of tax liens and an insurance gap that killed the Santa Fe rebuild makes this a real risk.

A funding shortfall, a tax collection action, or another insurance gap emerges, echoing the Santa Fe rebuild that stalled when liability coverage wouldn't cover the full cost. Nuñez delays or abandons the Source Hotel space, announcing a different plan.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1979-2024

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.

Then

El Chingon's Santa Fe run lasted weeks before the grease-fire shutdown.

Now

The Santa Fe location has yet to find a lasting successor to the 45-year institution.

Why this matters now

Shows how even Denver's most beloved and longest-running Mexican restaurants can end abruptly, and that successors face a hard road.

2020-2021

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.

Then

The LoHi space changed hands again within 18 months.

Now

El Chingon's LoHi run lasted about two years before the state seized the location for back taxes.

Why this matters now

The same physical restaurant spaces keep cycling through operators, underscoring the economic pressure on Denver independents.

Sources

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