The drinks were flowing once again at 3401 East Colfax Avenue last weekend, as the Lowbeam quietly tested the waters in the former home of another beloved bar. Now, it’s officially open and ready to welcome the neighborhood.
It’s been four months since Middleman shut its doors after a seven-year-run at that address, taking the James Beard-nominated Misfit Snack Bar with it. Initially, there were plans for two locals to take over the space and keep the Middleman name, but that deal fell through. That’s when another group stepped in.
The Make Regulars Collaborative is behind some of the best bars in the city, including the Horseshoe Lounge, Embassy Tavern and Dew Drop Inn. “We’re aware that the neighborhood loved and misses Middleman, and we hope to honor what was created there while ushering in a new chapter,” Make Regulars co-owner Leigh Jones told Westword last month. Judging from Lowbeam’s first weekend, that’s exactly what the group has done.
What we saw
The space has been updated with a coat of green paint, cozy new floral seating and light fixtures that give it a touch of femininity. They aren’t huge changes — the spot will seem very familiar to Middleman regulars — but they’re enough that this feels like a fresh start…