Controversial Grateful Dead-themed bar and brewery So Many Roads, which was forced to close for the entire month of November in the wake of underage alcohol-sale and cocaine-dealing stings by the Denver Police Department, will be allowed to remain open into the new year after satisfying the terms of its settlement with the city.
The agreement, which puts the club, at 918 W. 1st Ave., on probation for 12 months, involved owner Tyler Bishop admitting to the violations that occurred from Sept. 23, 2021, to March 25, 2022, according to documents from the Department of Excise and Licenses.
That includes four instances of alcohol being provided to a minor, one charge of disorderly conduct, and one charge of distribution of a controlled substance (cocaine).
“They are subject to additional penalties if there are any other even minor violations,” said an Excise and Licenses spokesperson. “And the business is required to post notice of the violation.”
As with 94% of all licensing “show cause” cases, as these types of agreements are called, the goal is never to revoke or suspend a liquor license, but to “attain compliance of city and state rules and regulations,” according to Excise and Licenses. “Unless the city sees no pathway to achieve compliance,” the spokesperson said.
Another avenue the city takes when there is no path towards achieving compliance — or sometimes when there are very severe violations of law — is to pursue a public nuisance case. That’s the case for So Many Roads’ sister bar, Sancho’s Broken Arrow, which surrendered its license as part of the overall settlement.
Sancho’s, also the target of complaints of alleged sexual assault, drugging, drug sales, and underage violations, was ordered to permanently shut down in October. Most recently, two women accused former owner and Bishop business-partner Jay Bianchi of sexual assault after an alleged incident in the basement of Sancho’s on Nov. 1, 2020.
So Many Roads has also been the site of picketing and protests against Bianchi organized by the Colorado Musician’s Union.
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