Munchies, where casual dining and creative dishes served in massive proportions blended with live entertainment, is closing its doors in downtown Colorado Springs at the end of 2024.

The last day of operation for the restaurant located at 122 N. Tejon St. will be Dec. 31, owners Chuck and MaryAnn Thomas announced on social media Friday afternoon.

“We have come to the decision that closing our restaurant is the best move for our future,” the couple wrote in part. “… It is simply time to focus on us and move forward into another chapter of life!”

The Thomases, who both grew up in the Colorado Springs area, debuted their Munchies719 food truck in 2019 and then later operated out of the kitchen at Triple Nickel Tavern for two years, solidifying their reputation for delicious from-scratch fare using locally sourced ingredients throughout the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In late 2022, the Thomases opened Munchies in a sit-down restaurant on Tejon Street, in the remodeled location of the former Michelle Chocolatiers & Ice Cream shop.

“(It) has been an amazing whirlwind of five long and very short years!” the couple wrote on social media.

The menu is large and varied, so there is something for everyone. Patrons have their choice of favorites like burgers, tacos, nachos, hot dogs, sandwiches and pizzas, breakfasts, salads and a litany of sweet treats, among others. There are vegetarian and vegan options, as well.

The announcement of Munchies’ closing amassed nearly 100 comments on the restaurant’s Facebook page as of Tuesday afternoon, with many visitors and residents lamenting the decision.

“You guys are such a joy and you will be missed. This breaks my whole heart!” Jamie Gomes-Harrington commented.

Several factors contributed to the Thomases’ decision to close the restaurant, MaryAnn Thomas said Tuesday between taking drink orders and running food.

The rising cost of doing business — building rent, labor and increasing food costs — coupled with decreasing foot traffic were partly responsible for the decision to shut down, she said. Sometimes, customers would also cite other challenges, like downtown parking rates and public safety concerns, as reasons they were not visiting downtown as much.

“The biggest (disappointment) is saying goodbye to our customers and all the friends we made here,” Thomas said, noting that Munchies was a known “safe space” for the LGBTQIA+ community. The restaurant hosts drag events throughout the week, including drag brunches and bingo, trivia and music.

“We are proud that people felt safe here and they were protected and not judged,” Thomas said. “We’re very sad. We poured our life into (Munchies) and we don’t want to close, but we also don’t want to be … in debt.”

Thomas said she and her husband don’t have plans to revive Munchies, in sit-down or food truck form, or continue in the restaurant business.

“We’ll take a break and then we’ll figure out the next step,” she said.

Munchies is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. It is closed Mondays.

To celebrate its last day on Dec. 31, Munchies plans a ticketed event that will include food and live entertainment, a drag performance. Find more information on the restaurant website at munchies719.com.

Munchies is among several businesses across Colorado Springs that have announced closures in recent weeks and months. In late November, China Town Restaurant on South Nevada Avenue announced it too will close at the end of the year. Hungry Howie’s, inside the Marketplace at Austin Bluffs shopping center northwest of Academy and Austin Bluffs Parkway, closed in late October, before a Blackjack Pizza opened in its place at 4272 N. Academy Blvd. a month later.