Orchid, the LoDo nightclub and event space that debuted in 2023 with a 1920s-themed jazz vibe, poured its final drinks in the early hours of New Year’s Eve and then quietly went dark. The 9,700-square-foot room on Market Street is now being marketed for lease, leaving neighbors and promoters to speculate about what might replace it. The closure caps a year of licensing battles and follows a New Year’s Day shooting that drew intense scrutiny from the city.
As reported by BusinessDen, owner Yimaj “Steve” Kalifa declined to comment while the property at 1448 Market St. is being shopped to new tenants. BusinessDen notes that staff worked a final shift on Dec. 31 and that a licensing hearing is scheduled for next Saturday, Feb. 14, for the club to explain why it should be allowed to keep its permits. The outlet also cites sources who say the operator may seek a partial license surrender to clear the path for someone new to take over.
New Year’s Shooting And City Crackdown
According to Westword, Denver police say a gun was fired from inside Orchid on New Year’s Day 2025, and surveillance footage reportedly shows a muzzle flash that struck a man identified in documents as Jacion Pope. The city’s show-cause order accuses the club of multiple violations and criticizes staff for failing to immediately report the shooting or fully cooperate with investigators. Westword’s reporting, based on licensing records, details how those documents were used by regulators seeking a temporary shutdown and additional conditions on Orchid’s permits.
Fresh Violations And A License Shuffle
City inspectors cited Orchid in early November for allowing patrons to smoke hookah and for using unlicensed security guards, violations that Denver police said they observed during a bar check in September, according to BusinessDen. Sources told BusinessDen the club is preparing to voluntarily surrender its dance-cabaret authorization while holding onto its liquor license, with the intent of transferring that license to a new operator. That would potentially set the stage for a restaurant or sports bar concept, but not a nightclub, marking a sharp turn from Orchid’s original pitch as a jazz supper club when it opened a few years ago.
Market Street In Limbo
The city’s order already required Orchid to adopt written policies to keep weapons out, ensure all security staff are properly licensed, and maintain a registered manager on site at all times, as Westword reported. Regulators split a 21-day suspension into three separate week-long closures instead of one continuous block. The licensing decision also found that Orchid “failed to immediately report unlawful and disorderly acts,” language that highlights the risk of longer suspensions or even full license revocation if further violations occur…