Anna and Angela of the Krantz Family on The El Chapultepec Legacy Project

When El Chapultepec comes up in conversation, what follows is a smile and a story that is so vibrant, you almost feel like you were there. El Chapultepec is a legendary Denver venue that stood downtown for 87 years. It became the hub for the best in Jazz and Blues while in the hands of late owner Jerry Krantz who made it his mission to offer live jazz with no cover charge. Jerry Krantz believed it was important to give everyone the ability to fall in love with Jazz. Known for their “Hot Burritos and Cool Jazz Nightly”, The Pec quickly became a community favorite and a staple for those passing through Denver. Their legacy at the corner of 20th and Market spanned four decades until they closed their physical location in 2020. Anna Diaz and Angela Guerrero, daughters of Jerry Krantz and now co-owners of The Pec, have now began the next chapter of El Chapultepec – a partnership with Dazzle Denver.

With the creation of the new Dazzle at The Performing Arts Center, The El Chapultepec Piano Bar at Dazzle came to life. This stage will host the “The Late Set” from 11 PM – 1 AM Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights starting in the fall. They are currently in the process of booking the first series of bands at The El Chapultepec Piano Bar at Dazzle which is made possible through the support of the community. Anna Diaz and Angela Guerrero joined the Morning Set to reminisce about this Denver icon and share how it lives on through The El Chapultepec Legacy Project.

Original Air Date: 08/25/23

El Chapultepec continues to connect with the community through their website, The El Chapultepec Piano Bar at Dazzle, and eventually a multi-media memory preservation project. You can visit Dazzle Denver for the schedule and more information on The El Chapultepec Piano Bar at Dazzle.

Tune into The Morning Set, weekdays from 7 AM to 10 AM on KUVO Jazz 89.3 FM, on the stream, or on the KUVO App.

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Photo Credit: Courtesy of El Chapultepec and Marc Sabatella