Café Brazil, which served a blend of South American and Mediterranean cuisine in Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood for more than three decades, is closing.
Chef Tony Zarlenga and his wife, Marla, bought Café Brazil in the 1990s and moved it from its original location to a large building at 4408 Lowell Blvd. where they expanded it. Just this month, Café Brazil was recognized by the city as one of 36 “legacy businesses,” due to its longevity as an independent operation.
But on Sunday, in a Facebook message titled “A Farewell or a New Beginning for Café Brazil?” the owners said the restaurant’s lease isn’t being renewed by the building’s owner.
“For over three decades, Café Brazil has been more than just a restaurant. It has been a second home for its cherished guests, a canvas for culinary imagination, and a vibrant piece of Denver’s cultural fabric. Today, with a heavy heart, we share that Café Brazil’s future is uncertain as our lease will not be renewed as of January 1, 2025,” the message began.
“The past year has been grueling. Like many in the restaurant industry, we faced a brutal decline in business, escalating costs for products and labor, and an inability to make ends meet. The challenges of 2024 have left an indelible mark, exacerbated by the lingering impact of the pandemic, which many local restaurants never fully recovered from,” it continued.
But Zarlenga also offered a glimmer of hope in a personal message.
“While the Café Brazil you know and love may not continue in the same form, the spirit of this space and its story may yet live on in a new chapter. We hold onto the hope that somehow, in some way, Café Brazil’s legacy will endure,” he wrote. “We extend our deepest gratitude to every guest, staff member, and partner who has been part of this extraordinary journey. Your loyalty and kindness have meant the world to us. Thank you for being part of our family.”