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Rocky Mountain Diner Closes Doors For Good

DENVER (CBS4) - A popular restaurant in downtown Denver closed its doors for good Sunday afternoon.

People have been eating at the Rocky Mountain Diner for 20 years, but those days are gone. The restaurant at the corner of 18th and Stout was a downtown Denver landmark.

"This is the first place we came after we got engaged," customer Sean Pechen said.

Pechen and his wife met 8 years ago waiting tables at the diner.

"It's always been a place to come in and see a friendly face and feel welcome," he said.

"Quality, good value, excellent food," bar manager Chris Kilkenny said.


The lease expired in December and the owner couldn't negotiate a new one, leaving its 40 employees without a job.

Most of the staff was told Friday, but one server found out as soon as she got to work.

"I'm not sure exactly where I'm going to go or what I'm going to do," server Peetee Della Bianca said. "This is my only job."

"Anybody who works here is going to do well in another place," Kilkenny said.

The diner is known for its friendly staff, buffalo meatloaf and southwestern flair.

"I don't think Denver is going to see the character and representation that this place gives Denver," a customer said.

There's no doubt it will be missed by the regulars

"I'm very sad," another customer said. "I love this place."

The landmark sitting right in the city has that small town feel that up until now kept customers coming back for more.

The diner's owner also owns Trinity Grille downtown and Chopper's in Cherry Creek East.

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