When I moved to Denver in 1996, the Broker, then already 24 years old, was legendary for its bowls of peel-and-eats and for its dining room, which sat inside the vault of the former Denver National Bank. It was the place where my boyfriend took me to dinner before “Phantom of the Opera.” It was the spot where my now-husband used to take his dates before homecoming and prom. I haven’t been inside the restaurant in years—decades, even—but I still regard the restaurant with the fondness that comes with thinking of Old Denver.

On Sunday, December 31, after 45 years in business, the landmark at 821 17th Street served its last orders of peel-and-eats, oysters Rockefeller, and steak Oscar. And when the Broker’s front door closed for the last time, it sealed a time capsule of four-plus decades of well-spent dining memories.

The Broker did not respond to requests for comment.

Amanda M. Faison
Amanda M. Faison
Freelance writer Amanda M. Faison spent 20 years at 5280 Magazine, 12 of those as Food Editor.