Denver Cocktail Bar Vacates Premises After Rent Dispute
The closure of The L underscores the operational risks of unpaid rent and pandemic-era lease disputes for local hospitality owners.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Openings & Closings
Live Poll
Should commercial landlords be required to offer rent relief during government-mandated pandemic business closures?
Denver cocktail bar The L has vacated its 2,250-square-foot space at 46 N. Broadway following a dispute over unpaid rent. The closure marks the end of operations for the establishment, which first opened its doors to patrons in early 2021.
Why it matters
The closure highlights the ongoing legal and financial fallout for commercial tenants stemming from pandemic-era rent disputes and project delays. Operators should note that disputes involving significant arrears can lead to sudden lease terminations and eviction proceedings.
The operator faces a $64,000 rent dispute related to the 2,250-square-foot space at 46 N. Broadway. The business concludes a six-year lease tenure that began in 2019.
The players
William Feinberg
The property landlord who is currently involved in a $64,000 rent dispute with his former commercial tenant.
Alex Lerman
The former business partner of The L who exited the cocktail bar enterprise in 2022.
The L
A Denver-based cocktail bar that operated a 2,250-square-foot facility on Broadway until its recent closure.
The details
The owner of The L cited conflicts regarding rent obligations that accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by construction delays that hindered operations. The dispute escalated until the premises were vacated last week, ending a tenure that began with a 2019 lease signing. Internal shifts also impacted the business, including the departure of business partner Alex Lerman in 2022.
Timeline
The lease for the Broadway premises was signed in 2019.
The bar opened to patrons in early 2021.
Business partner Alex Lerman left the company in 2022.
The business was evicted and ceased operations on October 22, 2026.
Market Landscape
This closure follows a documented industry trend of pandemic-era commercial lease disputes where accumulated arrears result in total asset liquidation. It serves as a reminder of the legal risks operators face when negotiating post-construction or pandemic-impacted rent relief.
Operators currently navigating rent arrears should prioritize formalizing repayment agreements with landlords to avoid summary evictions. Documenting construction delays and pandemic impacts early is critical for legal protection when lease performance benchmarks are missed.
The takeaway
Sudden lease terminations illustrate the high cost of unresolved financial disputes for small operators. Owners should monitor local eviction dockets and review their lease force majeure or rent abatement clauses to understand their exposure to claims for backdated rent.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts and property turnover, visit Denver Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by BusinessDen.
Live Poll
Should commercial landlords be required to offer rent relief during government-mandated pandemic business closures?
