Colorado Springs Restaurant Munchies Announces Closing | Business

Munchies, which serves casual dining and creative dishes in massive quantities paired with live entertainment, is closing its doors in downtown Colorado Springs at the end of 2024.

The restaurant’s last day of operation at 122 N. Tejon St. will be Dec. 31, owners Chuck and MaryAnn Thomas announced on social media Friday afternoon.

“We have come to the conclusion that closing our restaurant is the best step for our future,” the couple wrote in part. “…It’s just time to focus on ourselves and move forward into a new phase of our lives!”

The Thomases, who both grew up in the Colorado Springs area, introduced their food truck Munchies719 in 2019 and then spent two years in the kitchen at Triple Nickel Tavern, solidifying their reputation for delicious, freshly prepared dishes using locally sourced ingredients the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In late 2022, the Thomases opened Munchies in a sit-down restaurant on Tejon Street, in the converted location of the former Michelle Chocolatiers & Ice Cream Shop.

“(It) has been an amazing whirlwind of five long and very short years!” the couple wrote on social media.

The menu is large and varied, so there is something for everyone. Guests can choose from burgers, tacos, nachos, hot dogs, sandwiches and pizzas, breakfast, salads and a variety of sweet treats, among other options. There are also vegetarian and vegan options.

The announcement of Munchies’ closure sparked nearly 100 comments on the restaurant’s Facebook page Tuesday afternoon, with many patrons and residents lamenting the decision.

“You are such a joy and we will miss you. This breaks my heart!” Jamie Gomes-Harrington commented.

Several factors contributed to the Thomas family’s decision to close the restaurant, MaryAnn Thomas said Tuesday, between taking drink orders and delivering food.

Rising costs of doing business — building rent, labor and rising food costs — as well as declining foot traffic were partly to blame for the decision to close, she said. Customers sometimes cited other issues, such as downtown parking fees and public safety concerns, as reasons for not visiting downtown as often.

“The biggest (disappointment) is saying goodbye to our customers and all the friends we have made here,” Thomas said, noting that Munchies is a known “safe place” for the LGBTQIA+ community. The restaurant hosts drag events throughout the week, including drag brunch and bingo, trivia and music.

“We are proud that people here felt safe and protected and not judged,” Thomas said. “We are very sad. We’ve put our lives into (Munchies) and we don’t want to close, but we also don’t want to be…in debt.”

Thomas said she and her husband have no plans to revive Munchies, whether sit-down or food truck style, or to continue in the restaurant business.

“We’ll take a break and then figure out the next step,” she said.

Munchies is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. It is closed on Mondays.

To celebrate its final day on Dec. 31, Munchies is planning a ticketed event that includes food and live entertainment, as well as a drag performance. For more information, visit the restaurant’s website at munchies719.com.

Munchies is among several Colorado Springs businesses that have announced closures in recent weeks and months. In late November, China Town Restaurant on South Nevada Avenue announced it would also close at the end of the year. Hungry Howie’s in the Marketplace in the Austin Bluffs shopping center northwest of Academy and Austin Bluffs Parkway closed in late October before moving to its location at 4272 N. Academy Blvd. a Blackjack Pizza opened. a month later.