City Cast Denver

Could City Workers Get A Raise? Plus, New Buyers for The Mercury Cafe, and Another Bear Attack

September 18, 2026·36 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

The Mercury Cafe is back! Again! This time around, the buyers are asking the community what they want from this legendary space before moving into it. Can a cultural icon be preserved while also evolving with the times? City government reporter Elliott Wenzler joins host Bree Davies to peer into the crystal ball to see the Merc’s future, plus they discuss Mayor Mike Johnston’s optimistic city budget for 2027 and share their wins and fails of the week. Oh, and if you’re a City Cast Denver Neighbor you get a special segment just for members where Elliott and Bree daydream about their fave Denver businesses of yore. Elliott talked about a woman’s account of surviving a bear bite and DIA’s high marks for passenger happiness. Bree discussed the community survey from the new owners of The Mercury Cafe, the Supreme Court’s ruling on mail-in ballots this midterm, Torres shutting down and moving locations, and her love letter to an old restaurant.   For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member! What’s the long-gone Denver business you miss the most? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Learn more about the sponsors of this September 18th episode: Arvada Center Denver Health Denver Botanic Garden Clyfford Still Museum Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

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