Denver Seeks Restaurant Operator for McNichols Civic Center Building

144 W Colfax Avenue | McNichols Civic Center Building

The next phase of the McNichols Civic Center Building transformation is underway, with Denver Arts and Venues issuing a request for proposals for a full service restaurant on the building’s ground floor.

The city is seeking an experienced operator to lease and activate roughly 4,607 square feet of interior space alongside a 2,077 square foot outdoor patio facing Civic Center Park. The concept is expected to serve a wide mix of downtown workers, residents, visitors and park users, with both sit down dining and grab and go options.

Proposals are due by 12 p.m. on March 27, marking a key milestone in the city’s broader repositioning of the historic property. The full RFP can be found here.

As previously reported, the McNichols Building is being repositioned from a primarily event driven venue into a fully activated, multi use civic destination. The long term plan calls for a restaurant on the first floor, a museum on the second and event space on the third.

The restaurant component is central to that vision. City officials describe it as a signature amenity and the first full service restaurant within Civic Center Park, designed to create consistent daily activity and extend use beyond scheduled events.

The selected operator will also have the opportunity to play a role in the building’s broader programming. That includes potential bar service for third floor events and access to outdoor spaces like the courtyard and west lawn.

Construction of the restaurant space will be led by Denver Arts and Venues, including a full kitchen, bar and patio buildout, with the goal of opening alongside the Civic Center Park improvements in fall 2027.

Separately, the city previously issued an RFP for a museum operator on the second floor, which closed in January. A selection has not yet been publicly announced.

Together, these efforts signal a major shift for one of Denver’s most prominent historic buildings, as the city works to turn Civic Center into a more active, everyday destination.