2025 State of Denver Restaurants Report

In 2025, the Denver Restaurant Liaison Project was launched as a collaborative effort between Denver Economic Development and Opportunity (DEDO), Visit Denver, and inKind to identify the obstacles local operators face and offer actionable recommendations for how the city can foster growth and sustainability for our vital sector.

The challenges outlined in the report won’t come as a surprise: rising costs, reduced customer traffic, less discretionary spending, increased regulatory complexity, and lengthy permitting timelines are just some of the major obstacles listed in the report, as well as ongoing public safety and downtown recovery concerns.

The findings highlight a need for continued collaboration between industry leaders, city agencies, local policymakers, and other stakeholders to ensure that Denver returns to being a competitive, sustainable environment for restaurants to operate and grow.

The culmination of this work is available in the 2025 State of Denver Restaurants: Challenges Facing the Sector, as well as in the Executive Summary.