It'll Do Done

Let me start it off, 'cause I'm a player
Fade into part two, I'm the number-one ho layer
A mack, a player, and a pimp
Something much stronger than your average drink...

I was saddened to learn that the It’ll Do Lounge here in Denver shuttered their doors this past week. For those who don’t know, the It’ll Do was a venerable Mom and Pop bar right on I-70 and about Pecos. For those who grew up in the northern burbs, the old It’ll Do sign peering over the fence greeted us for as long as we can remember.

The main culprit of the shut down is Colorado’s smoking law, which ceased smoking in all bars and restaurants last summer. Scores of independent bars like the It’ll Do have closed over the past 11 months, as hardcore customers who liked to light up with their beer were forced to retreat outside. Some of these bars estimated 85% of their clientele lit up. Many invested thousands of dollars into outdoor smoking areas, only to see that not really hurt. Hard to convince someone in the middle of January to go smoke outside no matter how nice the new deck is.

I don’t smoke, but have always disagreed with this ban. More and more of these neighborhood bars shut down, as Applebee's and Old Chicago become the Cheers of the new generations. Next time you’re debating where to go for a quick drink, try an independent bar. It might be a dive bar, M*A*S*H reruns are probably on the corner TV, a drunk guy might be playing Tetris at the end of the bar, and the nachos might be little more than melted Velveeta. But the conversation and people are real, the beers ice cold, and maybe you can see a chair get smashed on someone’s head.

Check IT: Denver Joints - a list/review of Denver area dive bars