“Bring back Border” – A Denver student’s mission to revitalize college nightlife

By: Eden Bollschweiler

On the corner of Gilpin and Asbury, music buzzed out from the living room of local Denver house show – brimming with head banging and guitar whirring. Among the crowd, one University of Denver senior weaves and waves to everyone she knows, doling out hot pink stickers.  

They read: “Bring Back Border,” and Grace Neville is on a mission to do just that. 

For students at the University of Denver, the bar formerly known as Border evokes countless memories: fake ids, blaring music, cheap drinks, dirt and occasional drug use. But success and standards are not necessarily Border’s forte.  

For Neville, though, Border is a diamond in the rough – a prime piece of property begging to be polished, loved and creatively managed. She plans to transform the dilapidated bar into a thriving local music and nightlife venue that values safety and success above all else.  

Border’s History 

While the bar is located in prime Denver real estate, adjacent to the University of Denver and lucrative partygoers, a slew of management choices has hindered its success. According to Neville, the bar has had countless name and ownership changes since its inception in the 1990s, often in efforts to avoid legal repercussions for “shady business.”  

Despite all the name changes, students still dub it as Border, its first and only lasting name. The bar, tucked in the corner of a strip mall, is so shrouded in enigmatic management and wafty durability that adjacent business owners question its operations, according to Neville.  

Neville first started working as a bartender there in January of 2022 when it was called Gravel Pit, a half-hearted ode to Wu-Tang Clan’s music. Though she had many years of restaurant experience, this job was far different than the others.

The management paid Neville in cash only. What’s more, according to Neville, there is technically no record of her employment there. Despite it all, Neville ended up as a head bartender, event manager and quasi-manager in less than a year of working there.  

In December 2022, everything came to a halt. Gravel Pit’s operations were permanently shut down by the city of Denver and their coveted liquor license was forever surrendered. However, Neville and her business partner/bandmate Hannah Kahan saw an opportunity in the dilapidated bar.  

Neville and Kahan realized that the place has potential. “But it’s a s*** show,” Neville says. “[We] could do this so much better.” 

Neville and Kahan approached the landlord, the original founder of Border, with a mission to revitalize the space and take over the lease in 2023.  

“We want to reinvigorate it, bring it to life and turn it into something totally new …. Totally different,” Neville hopefully says.  

Beginnings in Business

While Neville certainly didn’t plan on leasing a bar before she graduated college, she always knew there were big things heading her way.  

“I’ve always wanted to run a business,” Neville says as her eyes light up. “I have always had this dream even since I was a kid, just wanting to do something on my own.”  

When Neville started at the University of Denver, she quickly realized the thriving student music community was lacking space to play. She started hosting and attending music nights, where her band and other student bands could express themselves and foster community.  

Quickly though, issues started to crop up: house shows would get shut down due to noise complaints, other venues were far from campus, and local living rooms could barely hold the bustling crowds.

These issues fueled Neville in her search for a better venue – a place for musicians, students and community members alike.

“[We] can give it [Border] that oomph, that love to turn it into something cool,” Neville says. “We think we can really help the music community feel like they have a space.”  

Building Momentum

Bringing back a bar, amidst steep Denver real estate prices and busy college careers is certainly not an easy task for Neville and Kahan, but they are up to the challenge.  

In an effort to build hype and excitement, Neville created an Instagram to promote Border and upcoming events. So far, it’s been gaining popularity by the day.  

Neville says that they plan to finance the renovations and lease at the beginning through a spot fund (available in the Instagram bio), similar to kick starter. The fund will encourage community members, students and stakeholders that Border’s mission resonates with to pitch in 5 to 10 dollars. Also, this month Neville and Kahan will start pitching to investors to gain more funding.  

After that, the entrepreneurs plan to host graduate parties, coffee and café shop hours, and rehearsal spaces for local bands, while they wait for a new liquor license. They hope by the fall of 2023, as students anxious to let loose return to campus, they will have the liquor license and be open for full business.  

Building a business, especially in this economy, is no small task for two college students, but the dream and drive is there.  

This fall, nestled in the cluster of South University businesses, a “Border” sign will shine into the Denver night. Crisp drums and guitars will be pouring out of the door while people pour in. Neville will likely be manning the bar, keeping a careful eye on customers and ensuring safety and success for her business, her dream.