Mercury Cafe

For over thirty years the Mercury Cafe has been a haven for weirdos, free spirits, dancers, musicians, poets, misfits, and artists of all walks of life. One of the only spots in Denver that maintains its reputation as an inclusive and open space for so many people of color, LGBTQ+ folks, and anyone really. Mercury has long since offered anything from swing dancing and belly dancing classes to weekly poetry slams. The owner, Marilyn Megenity, offers her gentle presence to every room in the cafe. There’s seldom a day Marilyn isn’t greeting folks at the door or listening in on an activity. The Mercury Cafe has been a gateway to passion, feeling, and emotion in a rapidly changing city, where folks can come close out the bustle of modern life for awhile. Mercury doesn’t have TVs or WiFi and staff encourage visitors to participate in the moment. This place deserves recognition for the magic it cultivates. The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly strained the cafe, like many small businesses around Denver. That said, I know it is now a candidate for redevelopment if a new owner does not swoop in. Maybe in highlighting the Mercury Cafe alongside other Denver landmarks we can preserve yet another irreplaceable piece of this city’s charm.