After nearly two decades of serving seafood, the iconic Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. located across from the Colorado Convention Center has officially closed its doors and is facing a lawsuit over unpaid rent.
The restaurant, situated at 1437 California St., shut down last week, as confirmed by its landlord.
A sign on the front door, featuring the restaurant’s cheerful shrimp mascot, reads, “Unfortunately, we have permanently closed. Thank you for allowing us to serve the Denver community.”
Arriving in Denver in 2006, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. had planned for a long stay, signing a lease until January 2027. Following a build-out, the restaurant opened its doors in 2007.
The restaurant encountered initial challenges in 2016 when nearby hotel construction led to a decrease in foot traffic, resulting in lower revenue. Kent Cherne, son of the property’s owner who acquired 1437 California St. in the 1960s, lowered the rent in response.
Cherne’s investment firm continued to support the seafood eatery during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and subsequent financial struggles in 2024 and early 2025. A lawsuit filed by Cherne Investment Co. on November 10 alleges that Bubba Gump failed to make timely rent payments, with outstanding amounts accumulating since April.
The lawsuit claims that Cherne reduced rent by $335,000 over a decade and seeks to recover October and November rents, late fees, taxes, interest, and unpaid wastewater fees without specifying monetary figures.
Named after the 1994 film “Forrest Gump,” Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. was acquired by the Texas-based Landry’s restaurant group in 2010. Landry’s Chief Operating Officer Scott Marshall stated that the closure of the Denver location, licensed to the Kelly Group, is final with no plans for reopening.
While the future of the 1437 California St. property, known for its murals of Teddy Roosevelt and Jack Dempsey, remains uncertain, it is currently listed for sale after being in the Cherne family for 65 years.
Kent Cherne expressed openness to repurposing or demolishing the 6,250-square-foot space, acknowledging the changing landscape of downtown Denver and the evolving needs of the property.
Reflecting on Bubba Gump’s 18-year tenure, Cherne remarked, “It was a good run, but every dog has its day. There are not a whole lot of businesses that are solid and just keep going forever.”
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