DENVER — After 24 years, Benny Blanco's Pizza shop in Capitol Hill is closing its door in Denver and moving to a different city.
Earlier this month, the well-known shop announced their closure on social media.
"It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we must announce the closure of Benny Blanco's Capitol Hill location," said owners Mike and Holly Martinez.
"This decision was not made lightly, and the thought of saying goodbye to the place we've called home for so long is truly devastating. Our little corner of Cap Hill has been more than just a pizzeria; it's been a gathering spot, a late-night refuge, and a place where countless memories were made. The relationships we've built with our loyal customers and the bonds formed with our amazing team members over the years are something we will always cherish."
The owners have made great memories with all of their customers and employees, the couple even met at the shop -- but it hasn't always been smooth sailing.
Throughout the years, the couple has seen the neighborhood change. When the pizza shop first opened, they said drugs were a problem. Fast forward a few years later, when the pandemic hit, the population of those experiencing homelessness grew.
Martinez said the two didn't feel comfortable in the area anymore and with rent prices going up, staying at the current location wasn't in the cards.
This is one of the many restaurants leaving Denver. According to the Colorado Restaurant Association, from July 2023 to July 2024, the city lost a total of 183 restaurants.
In a statement shared with 9NEWS, the Colorado Restaurant Association said rent is a growing problem for restaurants moving out of Denver, but not the only one:
"Our restaurant members often cite Denver’s minimum-wage increases as particularly burdensome, more so than rent, because every mandated increase gives servers and bartenders, the highest earners in any full-service restaurant, a raise while leaving behind the workers in the kitchen.”
Benny Blanco's Pizza is not going far, the owners have opened a new location in Arvada located at 10050 Ralston Road.
