I was from a Western Slope town where we didn’t even have a café. With its warm, eclectic, welcoming crowd of old beatniks, poets, punk rockers, and other weirdos, Muddy’s Café blew my mind. Here in Denver, misfits had a public place of their own, where they could hang out and eat good food without being harassed by cowboys or rednecks (a revelation). In his book, Muddy’s Chronicles: Memoirs from the Last Great Coffeehouse, Bill Stevens chronicles the story of this café and its community of unique people, where you could always find a chess game, an all-night intellectual conversation, a caffeine buzz and companionship. For over twenty-five years, this “philosophical coffeehouse” was one of a very few Denver institutions to provide a haven for independent thinkers and counter-cultural elements. Muddy’s hosted the likes of Allen Ginsburg, Ken Kesey, and all of Denver’s mayors and Colorado’s governors of the time. But, “Egalitarian in nature, [Muddy’s] also sheltered the bizarre, the demented and those soulless beings the world never knew existed. There was no schism between the bitter and the frightened, or normal and the sociopath; Muddy’s protected and gave sanctuary to all” (Stevens, p. 8). Muddy's was located at 2557 15th Street. It's later incarnation was at 2200 Champa. Place a hold on Muddy’s Chronicles. Search our Western History Subject Index for old newspaper articles about Muddy’s Cafe. Or come into the Western History and Genealogy Department to read our copy of Muddy’s Chronicles and to see other books about important restaurants, hotels, and businesses of Denver and the West.
Jenny-Wow! I was just reading
Jenny-Wow! I was just reading through all the comments when I came across yours, and your mention of all those names, it sure brings back A LOT of good memories....I lived in Parker(among other places...LOL)at the time, but from 7pm-4am, several days a week, Muddy's was my home away from home.....
Lord, I miss that place. Back
Lord, I miss that place. Back in the 90s, my friends and I would go out for Goth night on Sundays, dance till the clubs closed, then hit Muddy's (it was at Champa) to drink coffee, peruse the books, have a snack and occasionally play video games. I remember the remodel and we really felt it sucked the character out of the building. Part of the charm was all the mismatched chairs and tables, and the covered up windows.
We'd roll out of there once they closed, then hit The White Spot for breakfast.
Good times and memories.
That's really funny thst was
That's really funny thst was my first Dead show and I ended up at Muddys riding out the rest of my head full of cid.Cid.. 1990
That's really funny thst was
That's really funny thst was my first Dead show and I ended up at Muddys riding out the rest of my head full of cid.Cid.. 1990
Only there once, after a
Only there once, after a Grateful Dead and Carlos Santana concert in the 90's. I absolutely loved everything about it. Delicious food and great atmosphere.
the slightly off broadway
the slightly off broadway theater, the books, the chess. I was a vampire at the time and did time there. Sharon, Danny, Al, Greg... mexican coffee and heroin in the school bus, the Pirate Gallery down the street. I saw all the great blues people come in and just sit and play. It was a magical time. Things to do in denver...
It was a magical place to be
It was a magical place to be sure.....
I tried and tried for
I tried and tried for literally a few years to remember the name and one night just before I fell asleep Muddys popped into my head. I remembered seeing punk shows at the Mercury and then going to drink bottomless cups of the strongest coffee in town.
Who remembers Mary and Lous?? I always ended up there wired off Muddys coffee trying to eat an omelet at 5 am. Ahh to be 16 and high on Ritalin and coffee on a Friday night/Saturday morning.
A little late finding this
A little late finding this article and fantastic thread of comments! My time at Muddy's on Champa lasted between 1989-1992. I was 17 and boy did I ever burn the midnight oil. My group of pals that visited nightly were also known as the Zippo men. Anyone remember Dan Leventhal? He rode a BMW motorcycle. Even during the winter. Would love to run into him again someday. We often sat in our booth, drawing in our books and partaking of the bottomless coffee til the wee hours.. I remember the nachos pretty well too. I've always said if I were ever to write some work of fiction, it would have to somehow include the scene and characters I encountered at Muddy's. Shaped so much of who I have become.
I used to go in the…
I used to go in the Highlander across the street. A gal that bartended there was about 70 with a big round western belt buckle with her boots and all her name was Ruby and a delightful person.
My friends and I used to…
My friends and I used to ride our motorcycles to Muddys at the end of the night for ☕️ coffee. At the end of the 15th Street viaduct
Not sure if anyone will see…
Not sure if anyone will see this post, but the non-profit that I work for just bought the building Muddys use to be in on 22nd and Champa. Would love to hear stories and see pictures if people are willing to share!
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