DENVER — A majority of Coloradans have visited the iconic Casa Bonita restaurant in Lakewood, but fewer have ventured in since its 2023 reopening, according to the Colorado Polling Institute’s latest statewide survey of voters.
The self-proclaimed “Greatest Restaurant in the World” first opened in 1974 and closed temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 before its owners declared bankruptcy and sold the landmark eatery to “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone in 2021. After a reported $40 million rehab job, Casa Bonita reopened in 2023.
Nearly three-in-five (59%) Colorado voters surveyed say they have visited Casa Bonita at some point. A total of 14% say they have visited since its May 2023 reopening (including 5% who have only visited the remodeled version, and a lucky 9% who have been both before and after).
“Long-time Coloradans are very familiar with Black Bart’s Cave and the famous cliff divers — as three-quarters of Coloradans who have lived in the state for at least 20 years say they have visited Casa Bonita compared to just two-in-five of those newer to the state,” said Lori Weigel, Principal of New Bridge Strategy. “There’s a regional aspect predictably too, with two-thirds in the Denver-metro area having raised a flag for sopapillas, compared to just about half of those in the rest of the state.”
“Among the things people told us they like most are the restaurant’s ambience, the entertainment, and the food, which at one point earned the eatery the nickname ‘Casa No-Eata’ from many locals,” said Kevin Ingham, Principal of Aspect Strategic. “It was described by respondents as a ‘national landmark,’ an example ‘of the way Coloradans allow creative and unusual ideas to flourish,’ and as ‘awesome’ by a Mr. Eric Cartman.”
The online poll of 615 likely Colorado voters was conducted March 27-31 by the bipartisan team of Aspect Strategic (D) and New Bridge Strategy (R) and has a margin of error of +/- 3.95%.