One of the Cherry Creek Valley’s longest
continually owned and operated family businesses is about to become history.
The long-running Bonnie Brae Tavern that opened in 1934 with an old-school
ambiance, dishing out red-sauce Italian and American dishes, is likely to be
scraped-off by redevelopment.
End Of Era: One of the Valley’s longest continually owned and operated family businesses, the Bonnie Brae Tavern will likely close later this year. It will be replaced by a three-story building with condos on the top two floors plus ground floor retail.
Early-stage development plans submitted to
the city indicate that the 0.76-acre site at 740 S. University Blvd. will be
replaced by a 40-foot, three-story building with 43 apartments plus, in theory,
16,500-sq.-ft. of retail on the ground floor. The development would also have
one level of below-ground parking. At this point there is no guarantee that the
plot will in fact be sold or exactly what any development will look like. Some
anticipate that the retail will be jettisoned as it has been in other so-called
“mixed use” projects and the entire development will simply be one more
apartment/condominium project. The property owners have obtained a non-historic
designation for the building and demolition certificate which is valid until
May 1, 2024.
Plans are listed under the name Joe Jundt
who is developing the project with two local partners. Jundt reportedly envisions
one of the floor-level retail units as a higher-end restaurant, noting the area
is surrounded by pricey Belcaro and Wash Park homes. A Bonnie Brae Tavern
rebirth is unlikely, however, as there have been no discussions of the Tavern
reopening in the project.
Changing History
The east end of the Tavern building is
leased to In & Out Cleaners. The Tavern property also includes the building
at 750 S. University. Formerly a Bank of the West site, the building now is
home to Wish Gifts. Both businesses would be demolished according to plans for
the new project.
Celebrated Spot: This is what the Bonnie Brae Tavern looked like when Carl and Sue Dire opened the eatery in 1934. An early 9030s photo shows Carl Dire behind the bar.
Carl and Sue Dire bought the block of land
in 1933 when University Boulevard was a dirt road. The Dires opened a gas
station on the corner and Bonnie Brae Tavern was opened at its current location
in 1934, the same family still runs it. Looking east was sagebrush as far as
the eye could see until Colorado Boulevard, interrupted by a dairy farm or two.
To the west, instead of today’s pop-tops of prime real estate, there were
modest bungalows of a young neighborhood named Washington Park.
The tavern’s lack of pretentiousness made
it a favorite hangout for those in Glendale who viewed themselves at the time
as far more agrarian than urban. Well into the 1950s Bonnie Brae Tavern was
considered by many as part of greater Glendale rather than Denver.
Carl Dire – he died in 1982 – invested
every dime he had in the weeds and dirt along the east side of the street. With
prohibition out, Dire had decided to open a bar in what was one of the driest
neighborhoods in Denver. Dire and his wife Sue – she passed away in 2002 –
named the business after the housing development Bonnie Brae that surrounded
it. Like the restaurant, the neighborhood took time to grow into its name,
which is Gaelic means “pleasant hill.” In 1934, it was nothing more than a
scandal-ridden development that had gone bankrupt a few years earlier.
High Property Taxes Drive Sale
The impetus for the proposed sale has been the steep rise in property taxes for commercial property in the City and County of Denver. The last tax bill increased the levy by $30,000 for a $73,000 total. The owners noted that some businesses in the area are paying as much as $10,000 a month, which he finds would be prohibitive for many small independent businesses. It brings into question for some, can the Bonnie Brae commercial area on University survive? The old “Campus Lounge,” long a popular hangout like Bonnie Brae Tavern, is on its third proprietor in just a few years. As many small businesses are fleeing Denver, some do hang on as highlighted in the article on Page 1, “Old School Holdouts.”
“Mom & pop stores are not about something small; they are about something big. They are important … for providing us with intellectual stimulation, social interaction, and connection to our communities.” — Robert Spector
The commercial topography of Anytown,
America, is changing due to a distinct set of economic circumstances. The
buying power of large corporate entities and the low overhead of online
retailers are undercutting the profit margins of independent brick-and-mortar
businesses. As mom & pop shops give way to big box outlets, national chains
and web-based sales platforms, the independent business model is becoming an
increasingly difficult equation to balance.
Despite these daunting circumstances, a few
independent proprietors have found a way to stand their ground against the
seemingly unstoppable tsunami of hospital waiting room-like establishments and
soulless, whitewashed, cookie-cutter stores. While Denver’s ongoing
transformation into a generic urban sprawl mirrors that of most American
cities, a stubborn patchwork of retail holdouts continue to express traits of
their 20th Century DNA by operating with distinct, inimitable identities. These
holdouts are singular brands that cannot be duplicated or synthesized any more
than the personalities of their proprietors could be mimicked, molded or
mass-marketed.
This is by no means a comprehensive index, rather, it is a suggestion of infamous standouts across several industries — a list intended to expand the perception of your daily commercial options. Whether you must drive an extra mile, rearrange your schedule to make “normal” store hours or spend an extra buck or two — spending your hard-earned money in businesses with soul is damn well worth it.
Cigars On 6th
Cigars: Cigars on 6th is a welcoming place for sociable connoisseurs.
(707 E. 6th Ave., Denver, CO 80203)
A circle of ornate, leather-padded chairs
await tobacco connoisseurs, humidor aficionados and enraptured novices alike.
Visitors can expect knowledgeable advice on the nuances of different cigar
brands and can be reassured that at no point will they be harangued by salesy
pretense or over-accommodating smarm. You can choose from a world-class
selection, light up on the spot and relax into conversation with your
companions and other patrons while the game plays in the background on a giant
flat screen TV.
Rupp’s Drums
Drums: The gang at Rupp’s Drums offers personalized, world-class expertise.
(2045 S. Holly St., Denver, CO 80224)
This retail percussion mecca was originally
opened by the infamous Bob Rupp in 1984 and is revered among local musicians
and internationally renowned rock stars alike. Just about every stackable
square inch of space is occupied by the necessities of the percussive arts.
Every member of the sales staff is either a seasoned drummer, an accomplished
musician of another sort, a sound engineer or all three. You can expect expert
advice on every facet of their product line and practical suggestions based on
your specific needs. The difference between shopping here and going to a chain
store is the difference between front row seats at your favorite band’s live
concert and watching a video of said event shot on a wobbly smartphone.
Wax Trax Records
Records: Wax Trax Records boasts a massive collection of music across all genres. Wax Trax has been in Denver since 1975.
(620 E. 13th Ave., Denver, CO 80203)
This Capitol Hill landmark has been Denver’s
go-to place for recorded music since the early 1980s. Unlike corporate retail
stores, the staff are neither instructed nor inclined to adhere to the notion
of “the customer is always right.” You will not be bombarded by insincere
politeness or overly-helpful attention. Rather, you can expect to be left alone
to browse a staggeringly comprehensive offering of music across all genres. The
selection of domestic and imported music is unparalleled, and if you can’t find
what you’re looking for because you don’t remember the artist’s name or you
can’t spell — you may get the idea that you shouldn’t be there in the first
place. This mainstay has outlasted several pivotal trends, including the file
sharing fiasco, the music pirating era and the Independent Records location
that set up shop a few blocks away and recently folded. Wax Trax is currently
riding high on the wave of the vinyl record resurgence.
Mutiny Information Cafe
(2 S. Broadway, Denver, CO 80209)
Books: Book lovers will find their “epicenter of cultural mojo” at Mutiny Information Cafe.
A South Broadway landmark for years, this
one-of-a-kind bookstore, coffee bar, comic book shop, used record rack and
pinball arcade is what some refer to as Denver’s “epicenter of cultural mojo.”
Proprietors Matt Meygasi and Jim Norris personally curate every piece of
inventory — be it the latest issue of X-MEN or a newly-released, signed album
by Steve Earle. You can order a Thai iced tea, an Americano or a matcha tea
latte, grab a chair in one of the lounge areas and read, philosophize, play
chess, work on your epic poem or just stare at all the shelves and wonder where
to begin. Frequent poetry readings, musical performances, book signings and
presentations by literary luminaries make this place a shining example of what
can happen when you disengage from virtual media and go interact with people
the old-fashioned way — in person.
Rockmount Ranch Wear
(1626 Wazee St., Denver, CO 80202)
In 1946, “Papa” Jack Weil founded this
Denver institution that has organically grown into an international fashion
phenomenon. For three generations, these western-themed stylings have enticed
blue collar folks, alternative icons, country music legends and rock ’n’ roll
superstars. The company has remained family-run since its inception, was passed
down to Jack Jr. and is currently run by Papa’s grandson Steve Weil. Their LoDo
storefront avails visitors to a museum-like stroll through a rustic setting
abundant with western motif, custom embroidered shirts and everyday “ranch”
wear. Papa Jack was also the inventor of the snap-up button shirt, which has
been endorsed by the likes of Bob Dylan, Steve Buschemi and Elvis Presley.
Although internationally acclaimed and often imitated, the store and its wares
exude an undeniably genuine appeal to everyday people.
The Wizard’s Chest
Toys: Gift shoppers, game lovers and toy experts will find paradise at The Wizard’s Chest.
(451 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203)
This family-owned gift-shopping paradise
that first opened in 1983 has become a Denver institution. This 18,000 square
foot behemoth hearkens back to a time when kids’ games were played in actual
reality with tangible toys, inspired imaginations and physical human beings.
The original Cherry Creek location was moved to South Broadway in 2015 and
features, gifts, gags, gadgets and games of every imaginable stripe along with
costumes galore and a professional theater makeup department. Such gargantuan
retail overhead would spell disaster for a start-up, but decades of building a
large clientele has enabled proprietors to leverage their brand loyalty into a
real-life community of exciting weekly events. Meetups are held for fledgling
magicians, board game experts, Lord of the Rings lovers, Dungeons and Dragons
players, Star Wars geeks and much more. Their impressive calendar of
constructive extra-curricular engagement is no doubt one of the keys to their
long-lived success and a feature that would be impossible to replicate in a
corporate bureaucracy.
The new Denver location boasts an assembly line of sparkling, brightly-lit retail facades adorned by careful corporate branding. Yet, a few stalwarts of the old business model dare to offer personality, sincerity and expertise rather than the bland, sterile mediocrity that seems to be all the rage. So, the next time you see a storefront that is not emblazoned with a generic logo that has been burned into your psyche through mainstream marketing, take a chance and pop in. You just might experience what yesterday was commonplace and what tomorrow may be but a dusty memory.
District Ponders Beverly Hills Hip Vs. NY Village Vibes; Dumpsters On Street Plus Sardine Can Size Micro Apartments
by Glen Richardson
In 2018 Cherry Creek North projected completion
of nine out of 10 of its building projects, but as the new decade begins the
flurry of construction shows no sign of slowing. The neighborhood has slapped
on so much development in the past half-dozen years many residents and small
business owners are wishing for a moratorium to absorb the growth.
Shopping Galore: Cherry Creek North is becoming unrecognizable with a shift to be more like the famed Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. The days of quaint local artisan shops are quickly coming to an end.
The pace of development-driven change has
been head-spinning, adding millions of square feet of apartment and commercial
space while upending shopping and crushing the streetscape, parking and vibe of
the district.
In addition to lack of planning for and
management of projects, construction workers and developers have total control
of the streets with little or no concern for shoppers or retail owners. Equally
disturbing, the district still hasn’t decided on a direction to take to make
the district an attractive destination.
Beverly Hills Look
At the Cherry Creek North Business
Improvement District’s December board meeting, BID officials once again
contemplated trying to become Beverly Hills. It was the third time the board
has listened to Emzy Veazy III tell them how to copy Beverly Hills and retake
lost marketing share and become a world class destination. He also attended and
addressed BID in 2006 and 2017.
Building Buildup: BMC Investment’s remake of the Inn at Cherry Creek on Clayton St. is designed to transform the district into something similar to New York’s Greenwich Village. By completion, the Broe Group is expected to begin a massive makeover on the east side of Clayton.冨
Beverly Hills, of course, is known as one
of the most fashionable places to shop. In the heart of it all sits Rodeo Drive
— one of the most famous streets on the globe. It has more than 100
world-renowned stores and hotels along its three blocks.
BID board member Terri Garbarini — owner of
a Cherry Creek women’s shop for more than 20 years — has pushed for the Beverly
Hills image. She once told the Denver Business Journal, “Cherry Creek has
become Beverly Hills without pretentiousness — and business wants in.” She
originally had a shoe store in Larimer Square, then relocated to Cherry Creek
and reopened as a dress shop on 3rd Ave. In 2013 Garbarini paid $5 million for
the building at 239 N. Detroit St. and moved into the larger space.
Or New York Style
Meanwhile Matt Joblon — CEO of BMC
Investments and another BID Board Member — has been transforming the district
into something much more like New York’s Greenwich Village. His projects have
added New York style hotels and eateries to Cherry Creek. Joblon’s $30 million
makeover of the Inn at Cherry Creek underway on Clayton St. is being designed
as an 18-hour-a-day nightlife hub similar to those in the Village.
Sardine Space: This five-story, 37-unit micro-apartment building is under construction at 135 Adams St. Cars in photo are at the adjacent Zaidy’s Deli; there will no parking in the 300-800-sq.-ft. units.
Referred to as the “Village” by New
Yorkers, its history is artsy and edgy. It is eminently walkable, and may have
more culture per square foot than any other area of New York. Today it also
features sleek new construction, upscale restaurants and dozens of gyms.
Jokingly introduced by former Neighborhood
Assn. President Robert Vogel as the man who wants to change the district’s name
to “Joblonville,” BMC built the Steele Creek Apartments, Halcyon Hotel, the
Financial House and St. Paul Collection. Projects scheduled to start this year
include a five to seven-story structure with retail on Fillmore St. and a
six-story Equinox Fitness building on St. Paul
Eateries, Retail Turmoil
Not all of the BID board, however, has
benefited from the district’s massive construction projects. Marshall Miranda
closed his distinctive Bombay Clay Oven on Steele St. in April of last year. A
Cherry Creek fixture since 1997, he blamed the closure on “several years of
heavy construction that made access to the eatery difficult and parking all but
impossible.” Laurel Cherry Creek, a 12-story luxury condo opened several months
later.
Boutique Hangs On: Rather than closing, woman’s fashion store Adornments on E. Third Ave. has sold to longtime manager Consuelo Diaz , at right, and will remain open.
Hedge Row — the restaurant across from Miranda’s
eatery at 100 Steele St. — shuttered before Miranda called it quits. Kitchen
Restaurant Group co-founder Kimbal Musk blamed parking shortages and constant
lane closures for the decision. Construction was also a factor for the Thirsty
Lion closure. Harmon’s Eat & Drink didn’t renew its least on East 2nd Ave.
blaming rent increases. Even Wolfgang Puck couldn’t make it in Harmon’s space.
Cherry Creek’s retail has also struggled
due to the unmanaged building boom and rapidly rising rents. After five years
in the upscale Fillmore Place development, the Hallmark store at 2940 E. 2nd
Ave. closed in January. The store’s lease ended last July but remained open
through the holidays paying rent monthly. The Jonathan Adler’s store at 158
Fillmore St. in Cherry Creek also closed last year. The high-end furnishings
brand was the only Adler store in the region. Other closures included
Eccentricity, a women’s clothing, accessories and gift store at 290 Fillmore
St. and St. Croix on East 3rd Ave.
Positive Shopping News
Many residents and longtime state/regional
customers are concerned about the future of what has long been a neighborhood
hangout for shopping, dining and entertainment. The uncertainty that comes with
new construction, vacant storefronts and potential new owners makes them
apprehensive.
As development triggers the departure of
eateries and retail shops — particularly independent boutiques — there’s also a
bit of positive news to uplift shoppers. Rather than closing Adornments, owner
Helen Wicker has sold the local store to longtime manager Consuelo Diaz. Wicker
has moved to Santa Fe where she owns sister store Adorn.
Unloading On Shop: Construction workers-developers continue to harass retailers. Harriet’s on 3rd and Fillmore, at left, found this construction dumpster in metered space in front of the shop.
Diaz has managed the Cherry Creek store for
23 years, assisting the boutique’s devoted customers. “Adornments will continue
the unique, stylish and artistic vision that has made the fashion store a
Valley favorite,” she tells the Chronicle. The store features a continuously
changing collection of clothing, jewelry and accessories. Diaz and her
friendly-knowledgeable staff enjoy helping women with their individual style
and finding “clothing and accessories to Adore.” Adornments is located at 2826
East 3rd Ave. Information: 303-321-7992.
Dumpsters, Micro Flats
District shop owners, however, continue to
face challenges due to the uncontrolled construction. Harriet’s, a clothing
boutique at 300 Fillmore, recently found a construction dumpster taking up the
metered spaces in front of the shop. Owner Harriet Gibson, an unabashedly
direct business woman, eventually got the dumpsters moved albeit only few
spaces down the street in front of the library.
Upscale Cherry Creek North shopping faces
yet another challenge: Limited land in the district is attracting another kind
of development — living like fancy sardines in micro apartments. A five-story,
37-unit micro-apartment building is expected to open this spring at 135 Adams
St. in Cherry Creek. Amazingly neighborhood groups couldn’t halt the Barry
Hirschfeld-led development that features no parking in the already dense
neighborhood.
Whether Cherry Creek chooses to imitate Greenwich Village or Beverly Hills, the district is unlikely to become an awe-inspiring destination until it becomes walkable, has parking and can attract and keep shopping boutiques, vibrant venues and restaurants that create a unique destination.
This month is one of those rare times when there are 29 days in February instead of 28. A leap in time when the calendar is adjusted to make up for extra seconds accrued over the preceding three years due to the rotation of the earth. Given it’s also Valentine’s month, we have to ask: Will you or won’t you? Should you or shouldn’t you?
According to an old Irish legend, St.
Brigid struck a deal with St. Patrick to allow women to propose to men — and
not just the other way around — every four years.
To help you make the leap— be it love or
business — here are our choices for shopping, dining and entertainment to make
you feel all warm and lovey-dovey:
3 Leap
at the chance to see some of the 43 films at the Jewish Film Festival playing
at the JCC’s Wolf Theatre, Feb. 5-19. Featured films include 16 Denver and six
Colorado premieres. Information: 303-316-6360.
3 You’ll
love the Colorado Ballet Auxiliary gala with dinner and an excerpt from Peter
Pan at The Ellie Feb. 6, 5-11 p.m. Information: 303-339-1640.
3 Celebrate
Valentine’s Day at Denver Botanic Gardens’ annual Love Potions from the Vine
tour Feb. 7-9 & 13-15. Information: 720-865-3500.
3 Just
for laughs, take your love to see stand-up comedian Phil Hanley perform at
Comedy Works Feb. 13-16. Information: 303-595-3637.
3 Experience
a leap in time at Mad Peaches Med Spa. Their skin care treatment solutions can
help reverse the effects of stress, genetics and lifestyle choices. For a
complimentary consultation: 303-474-4436.
3 No
matter how you slice-dice it, food and love are inseparably tied. Enjoy
Valentine’s Day at Glendale’s Jax Fish House Feb. 14, starting at 3 p.m. Happy
hour to 6 p.m., raw bar menu all night. Information: 303-756-6449.
3 Jazz
up leap year to jazz group Halo-Halo fronted by soprano Caitlin Gilmore at the
Tuft Theater Feb. 22, 8 p.m. Information: 303-777-1003.
3 Launch
your leap year garden at the Colorado Garden & Home Show at the Convention
Center Feb. 22-March 1. Information: 303-932-8100.
3 The
epic and poetic nature of music and lyrics always seems to conjure up feelings
of romantic emotion. The Colorado Symphony plays the most romantic music in the
orchestral repertoire at Boettcher Concert Hall, Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m. Titled A
Symphonic Valentine, the evening features soprano Laquita Mitchell who brings
her rich, expressive vocal to works from Schicchi and Tchaikovsky’s ballets.
Information: 303-623-7876.
Every four years, thanks to a quirk of the
earth’s orbit and the combined efforts of Roman Emperor Julius Caesar and
16th-century Pope Gregory XIII of Gregorian Calendar fame, we must add an extra
day at the end of February to create a leap year. Without the extra day every
four years, we would lose almost six hours every year.
Use the extra day to do something daring,
extraordinary and dissimilar from what you usually do. Take a chance and shape
an adventurous, distinctively different day.
A German proverb predicts that leap years
will be cold. This month between two and nine-inches of snow falls in Denver in
half the years. The Old Farmer’s Almanac sums it up thusly: “New snow and blue
toes. Fine and dandy for Valentine candy. Snow spittin’; if you’re not
mitten-smitten, you’ll be frostbitten! By jing-y feels spring-y.”
—
Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at
newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
