Remembering Denver’s Most Influential Jazz Club | El Chapultepec | The History, Closing, & Future

(Photo Courtesy of KUVO)

COVID-19 has massively and devastatingly impacted the music industry over the last 9 months. Touring staff, crew members, artists, venue owners and their staff have been greatly affected by the pandemic across the country. While artists and their immediate staff have been able to barely stay afloat through virtual concerts, merchandise sales, and streaming royalties, smaller venues are not able to benefit from these sources of income. Smaller venues’ lack of opportunity to make money has led them to become the most negatively affected Music Industry sector due to the pandemic. As COVID-19 has worsened over the course of its existence in the United States, it has affected venues across the Front Range. It has most recently contributed to the closing of the historic eighty-seven year old venue known for its jazz roots, El Chapultepec.

The History and Importance of El Chapultepec

The rich history of El Chapultepec began a short time after the ratification of the 21st amendment, officially repealing prohibition in the United States. The excitement of the official ending of prohibition, along with the booking of jazz artists helped El Chapultepec become one of the most, if not the most, well-respected and loved jazz venues in Colorado. Sitting on the corner of 20th & Market since 1933, El Chapultepec played a massive part in creating the thriving Denver jazz scene. This venue's history with jazz began when Jerry Krantz, the original owner's son-in-law, took over and transitioned the establishment from a Mexican Restaurant and Bar into the well-known live jazz venue it became. 

Krantz made sure that El Chapultepec did not rely on material things to draw people in. El Chapultepec relied solely on the big names it attracted and the authentic vibe it produced to allure Denver jazz lovers to the club. Krantz created this amazing atmosphere because he did not charge a cover fee, allowing jazz lovers to come in and enjoy the music for free. El Chapultepec thrived because it understood the importance of putting music, the most important factor of a venue, above all else.

 People came to enjoy the music and spend time with their loved ones. El Chapultepec was able to stay relevant throughout its existence even in the quick expansion of the Denver music scene by not selling out. The venue kept true to the purpose of its existence: To let people enjoy great music. What made El Chapultepec truly great was its uniqueness. It was the only place in Denver that people could go without a cover fee or dress code to enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine, great drinks, and soul-infused jazz and blues. The venue gained more popularity act by act, hosting some of the biggest names in jazz including Frank Sinatra, Wynton Marsalis, and Tony Bennett.

(Photo Courtesy of Lucy Beaugard)

El Chapultepec’s Closing

 As an establishment with such a massive impact on the Denver music scene, it is heartbreaking to see El Chapultepec’s doors close for the last time. COVID-19 has certainly played a role in the decision to close El Chapultepec permanently, but it is not the only contributing factor. The rapid expansion of Denver since El Chapultepec’s birth in 1933 created a multitude of business and safety issues. The small venue located in LODO has suffered the consequences that come along with being a family-owned, authentic business in a rapidly expanding area. The biggest problem that El Chapultepec faced began in 1995 with the opening of Coors Field.

 Over the years, the LODO neighborhood has turned into a nightlife hotspot for Denver’s younger generations. This has literally and metaphorically drowned out the sounds of Jazz that were played at El Chapultepec. Throughout the expansion of Denver, some artists felt hesitance to play in this atmosphere. The sounds of excitement, or more recently, sounds of the dissatisfaction of boozed up Colorado Rockies fans had become too overwhelming for the artists and staff. The expansion of Denver’s nightlife slowly began to pick away at the calm, laid back atmosphere the venue was so well known for. As the original atmosphere slowly went away, Denver began to outgrow the once popular club.

Not only did the growth of Denver’s nightlife cause El Chapultepec to begin to lose business due to the busy and noisy nature of LODO on the weekends, but it also created safety concerns for staff and customers alike. The wild bar scene that overtook LODO left people feeling less safe walking to their cars and getting home after late shows. Simply put, it was just not practical for El Chapultepec, a relaxed, laid back, jazz club to operate successfully in the middle of a nightlife hotspot filled with bars and a stadium.

(Photo Courtesy of Visit Denver)

The Light At The End Of The Tunnel

As 2020 winds down it is important to see the light at the end of the tunnel. With the approval of two vaccines for COVID-19, it is hopeful that the music industry and life in general will be back to normal in no longer than a year or less. It is safe to say that once COVID is under control, the entertainment industry is in for a massive revival. When bars, venues, restaurants, and every other source of entertainment reopen this generation will experience their own sort of “Roaring 20’s”. With citizens anxiously awaiting the moment when they could celebrate, enjoy concerts, drink, and simply enjoy being around other people again, the end of the Spanish Flu in 1920, along with the end of prohibition in 1933 brought a lot of popularity back to live music.

 Live music became increasingly popular from the 1920’s-1930’s after the inconveniences and hardships of the previous generation had subsided. Millennials and the older part of Generation Z are in a very comparable situation to their ancestors who lived during the 20’s-30’s. This is the time of life where it is considered acceptable to go out every weekend, spend time with friends, and make memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.

(Photo Courtesy of History.com)

The Greatest Generation, Millennials, and Generation Z have all been restricted from participating in these kinds of activities that fuel the music industry. The last year has been especially difficult for the music industry due to the cancellations of tours, shows, and festivals, but industry professionals should keep their heads up because they are about to experience the industry like they never had before once COVID-19 is under control.

Music and entertainment exploded in the 1920s, and bars and other venues gained popularity again in the 1930’s after prohibition ended. Young people were desperate to get out and experience the life that had been taken away from them because of the Spanish Flu. A boost in consumerism, especially in the sectors of entertainment and music helped the U.S. economy

flourish. Those in the music industry should expect and plan for a similar economic explosion because concert venues are going to be packed from the rail to the exit door with entertainment-deprived Americans. 

El Chapultepec was able to experience its own popularity boost that came along with the end of prohibition. Similar to the end of the Spanish Flu people were excited to get back out and experience nightlife and make memories. Although the historic venue was struck hard by the growth of Denver and COVID-19, other venues that have been more fortunate should stay hopeful for the overwhelming swarm of shows they will be able to host soon enough. It is sad to see El Chapultepec go, but it is important to recognize the massive role it played in the development of the Denver jazz scene. Just as Denver was blessed with El Chapultepec and the amazing culture it produced after the hardships of the 20’s and 30’s, and it is important that the younger generations and music industry professionals stay optimistic and excited to see what Denver’s music scene gives us with the end of COVID-19.

(Photo Courtesy of Jose Carlos Fajardo)