Tony Pasquini has closed his Tony P’s Uptown location, leaving the former operator of the Pasquini’s pizza chain with just one location bearing a portion of his moniker.
A worker at his Tony P’s Highlands location, which remains fully operational in northwest Denver, confirmed it is the only Tony P’s location remaining. A sign on the window of the former Uptown location also states that the restaurant has shut down, but that deliveries will continue from its location at 32nd and Zuni streets.
Pasquini opened Tony P’s Uptown at 777 E. 17th Ave. in November 2012 while he was in the midst of a dispute with his sister, Melinda Pasquini, over who owned the rights to use the Pasquini’s name. It was named Pasquini’s 17th at first, but changed just three months later to Tony P’s Uptown.
The eye-catching building — its century-old exterior was painted a bright purple that made it look almost like a New Orleans hangout, complete with blues and jazz bands playing there each Friday night and Gospel brunches on Sunday — was a popular spot from the get-go. It opened as the neighborhood just east of Capitol Hill was growing its population and diversifying its restaurant selection.
