The Hard Truth of Denver’s Uniquely High Minimum Wage
Minimum wage in Denver is going up again in January, and the number of restaurants is going down. While Denver’s restaurant community boasts a brand new Michelin star as of last week, more and more restauranteurs are leaving the Mile High in pursuit of greener pastures. So what exactly is happening that’s making it so hard to run a great restaurant here? The Colorado Restaurant Association’s CEO Sonia Riggs and government affairs director Colin Larson join host Bree Davies to talk about how Denver’s unique minimum wage laws affect the restaurant business, why services fees probably aren’t a cure-all and some of the reasons behind that mediocre $20 cheeseburger.
Starting Jan. 1, Denver’s minimum wage will be $18.81 per hour for non-tipped workers, up from $18.29, and $15.79 per hour for tipped workers, providing that they earn $3.02 in tips. The City of Denver has a breakdown of why our minimum wage is going up again this year.
Bree quoted this great article in the Denver Post by Allyson Reedy: “Overpriced Denver restaurants need a reality check for their inedible chicken and $20 cocktails.”
For further listening, we talked about the real value to be found at one of Denver’s Michelin star winners and broke down last week’s announcement of new Michelin winners.
For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.
Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver
Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver
Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/denver
What do you think about Denver’s minimum wage going up? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
- Life Surge
- What the Buff Podcast
- Meow Wolf
- PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $75 off your first delivery
Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Local TV News vs. Instagram Influencers, Avs/Nuggs Playoff Stories to Watch, and Would You Eat a Beaver?
Denver’s local TV news scene is on the precipice of a big shake-up, with Fox31’s parent company Nexstar poised to acquire 9News’ parent c...
Can 80k Save Denver's Last Lesbian Bar? Plus, Denver's Big Pitch for the DNC and 'Third Space' Overload
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston was in New Orleans last week along with someone dressed up like the Big Blue Bear to help make the case that t...
Gardening Tips for Denver's Drought Restricted Summer
From an unseasonably warm winter to the premature blooms of an early spring, Colorado’s wacky weather has left Denver gardeners stumped....
'Your City Could Be Better': Why Portland’s Considering Hiring a Night Mayor — Presented By City Cast Denver
Denverites, what do you do when your night life starts to dwindle? Nightlife is a huge economic driver for cities, but city offices are o...
Lakewood Backtracks on Housing Density, Inside the RTD Drama, and Shirtless Rockies Fans
Lakewood voters sent a big statement to the rest of Colorado this week, with the campaign to reverse the Denver suburb’s new housing dens...
Xcel Takes on Data Centers, RTD's Big Shakeup, and Former Mayor Hancock: Real Estate Mogul?
There was a huge shakeup at Denver’s transit provider RTD yesterday as CEO and GM Debra Johnson declined to renew her contract, effecti...
Why are Denver Lakes Disappearing? Plus, Blucifer on Hulu and Disneyland on Colorado Boulevard
What is happening to Huston Lake? The southwest Denver body of water has almost completely dried up, taking with it some of the park’s fl...
Polis and Boebert at the Rockies Game, Denver's Next Top Mascot, and More from the Mailbag!
Could prediction markets in politics mean more participation from voters? What if the Denver Summit FC’s mascot was a giant sun? Where’s...
Are Denver Restaurants Really in Crisis? It’s Complicated.
It feels like every week, another Denver restaurant is closing – Enzo’s End Pizzeria served its last slice on Friday, Imperial Chinese sh...
'Your City Could Be Better': Denver’s Bet on a Women’s Soccer Stadium
If you were one of the over 60,000 fans cheering for the Denver Summit last weekend, you may already know this, but Denver is only the se...