Sam's No. 3 received an early Christmas lump of coal from the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment on December 10, in the form of a placard on the front door closing down the diner because of supposed violations of COVID-related outdoor seating. That seating was on a temporary enclosed patio that the restaurant says was adequately ventilated — but the city disagreed after seeing customers dining at two tables in the area. The closure didn't last long, though. Sam Armatas, co-owner and grandson of the Sam Armatas who opened the original Sam's No. 3 in 1927, says he has been working with the health department all day to come to an agreement that would allow his restaurant to reopen. And the department listened; here's the statement they sent us at 3:19 p.m. December 11: