The BRT construction project on Colfax Avenue has claimed several of the businesses that make Denver interesting. Middleman shut its doors last June, followed by Michelin-recommended Chinese joint Q House in September. Last weekend, Machete called it quits after a decade on the street.
Now, locals are nervous that La Abeja – a food-scene staple for over 25 years, known for its no-frills Mexican fare – could be the next restaurant to fall victim to the torn-up streets and sidewalks.
The East Colfax eatery first opened as a modest Mexican bakery before becoming the breakfast-and-lunch spot it is today. While ownership has changed hands over the years, the heart of the restaurant has remained the same.
“I worked there when I was a teenager; that was my first job, my brother as well. Then, my dad started working there around 2018,” says Eva Murillo, whose parents now operate the restaurant. “My mom started working there around 2000, and she’s the one who created the whole food menu. All of the recipes are hers. None of them are written down, she just knows them.”…