James G. Karagas

James G. Karagas of Boulder passed away June 17, 2018 after a short illness. He was 87.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, June 25 at First United Methodist Church, 1421 Spruce St. in Boulder, followed by a reception.

Jim was loved by everyone and had two great passions in life: My Brother’s Bar in downtown Denver, which he started and owned for many years with his brother Angelo, and his wife Linda.

Jim loved working, and his customers adored him. He was not just an icon, an early, wise investor in LoDo and friend of Gov. John Hickenlooper, but also the kind of man who always had a smile for everyone, and continued to sell Girl Scout cookies at the bar long after his own daughter had grown up.

He was born July 3, 1930 in Detroit to George and Angelina Karagas. He graduated from McKinley High School in Detroit and served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Grand Masonic Lodge of Michigan.

Sons of Greek immigrants who ran a tavern in Detroit, Jim and Angelo bought a run-down saloon at the corner of 15

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Street and Platte River Drive in 1970 and turned it into a true Denver landmark. Jim owned My Brother’s Bar until 2017, when he sold it to a long-time server and her son. The brothers also owned and operated the Wazee Supper Club, the “granddaddy of LoDo” that was legendary for its pizza.

When Jim married Linda Hance on Aug. 15, 1987 in Dallas, she wondered if he might love the bar more than he loved her. She was happy to discover he had enough love for them both.

Jim is survived by his wife Linda H. Karagas, of Boulder; a daughter, Demi Karagas of Copenhagen, Denmark; two step-daughters, Paige Bales of Dallas and Tracey Bunce of San Antonio; his brother, Al Karagas of Denver; five grandchildren; two nephews and one niece.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Angelo Karagas and Nick Karagas.