History - Tavern Hospitality Group
Tavern Hospitality Group is a Denver-based family-owned operation, comprised of Tavern Uptown, Tavern Downtown, Tavern Lowry, Cowboy Lounge, Soiled Dove Underground, Tavern Tech Center and the soon-to-open Tavern Wash Park. The company was the brainchild of Frank Schultz and his mother and step-father Terry and Al Papay. Their first venture was The Soiled Dove in 1997, forged from an historic LoDo warehouse on the corner of 20th and Market. Originally opened as a dueling piano bar, the Dove featured bands on an occasional basis. Soon, this concept became more popular than the pianos so the location was transformed into a live music format in 2000. The venue’s reputation in the music industry flourished.
The company’s growth and development is grounded in their next concept, Tavern Uptown. During their quest for “an upscale neighborhood bar with great food”, the owners realized there was a market for such a place in Denver. They answered with a new location at 17th and Pearl in 2002. It quickly became a favorite neighborhood gathering spot offering more than just food and drink. Locals flocked, hungry for a place they could call home after a long day’s work. A cozy fireplace, outdoor patio, pool room, miniature bowling alley, televised sports and trivia are popular attractions. Among other awards, Uptown has been voted “Best Outdoor Bar” by Citysearch and Westword, “Top Fireside Haunts” by The Denver Post and “Best Bowling Alley in a Bar” by Westword.
Following Uptown’s success, Schultz and the Papays continued the concept in 2006 by transforming The Soiled Dove into Tavern Downtown. By then, The Soiled Dove had outgrown its space and was encountering timeframe limitations during which concerts could be offered. The solution was to remodel the location into another tavern and eventually relocate the Dove. Catering to the young hip crowd and the post-sports event fans, Tavern Downtown offers a beautiful bar, huge fireplace and lounge area with state-of-the-art plasma television screens, game room, dining room and dance floor. Recognized as one of the “Top 10 Best Rooftops in America” by Playboy and “Top 10 Rooftops in the West” by Sunset, the patio overlooking Coors Field is a favorite for Denver residents and visitors.
Schultz responded to community requests in 2006 when choosing the new location for The Soiled Dove as well as the company’s next Tavern. In the heart of the new Lowry Landmark Urban Community, Tavern Lowry opened with Soiled Dove Underground beneath it. Voted "Best Bar in a Bar" by 5280 Magazine, Tavern Lowry is a perfect place to meet friends or watch a game. Guests can unwind outside on the beautiful patio featuring a soothing waterfall or make themselves at home in front of the fireplace in the over-sized leather seating. Traditional and unique tavern fare is featured at this warm neighborhood spot.
Soiled Dove Underground inhabits a beautiful, brand-new space with a premium state-of-the-art custom sound system. With each seat no more than 45 feet from the stage, the Dove is Denver’s intimate concert experience. Long heralded as one of Denver's premier locations to see a concert, Soiled Dove Underground has won numerous awards, including Westword's "Best Club Move", "Best Intimate Concert Hall" and "Best Small Venue". The Dove has a reputation for bringing quality acts to Denver including Blues Traveler, Jack Johnson, John Mayer and the Indigo Girls. In addition to live music performances, the Dove is also known as a unique space for large private events.
In the summer of 2007, the owners purchased Cowboy Lounge which is adjacent to Tavern Downtown. With Denver’s rich history in cowboy lore, the Cowboy Lounge is a natural piece of LoDo’s character, bringing guests a mixture of both country and rock music. The atmosphere captures the true Wild West with its Western cowboy flare, knobbed wood furniture and leather couches. Guests enjoy a spacious dance floor, two movie screens in the main room and a jumbo screen in the VIP room.
Continuing the company’s growth, the owners entered the DTC area with Tavern Tech Center in June 2008. They saw an incredible opportunity in becoming a member of such a vibrant neighborhood. As with the other taverns, Tavern Tech Center offers a warm environment featuring a game room with Thunderbowl mini lanes, pool, shuffleboard, etc., a fireplace with cozy furniture and several patios. Tavern Tech Center’s rooftop patio is its greatest and most unique draw.
All locations have space available for both small and large private parties. With comfortable and unique settings, the private areas are perfect for social, corporate and charitable events.
Frank Schultz and Terry and Al Papay have found their nitch in the Denver community. With more locations on the way, Tavern Hospitality Group has become a vital piece of Denver’s personality.