Breaking Down Denver’s Rising Levels Of Air Pollution
by Luke Schmaltz
It’s rush hour on a Denver weekday
afternoon and bumper to bumper traffic is making the ride home a frustrating
punishment rather than a jettison to freedom. Then suddenly a jogger flies past
your window and a pang of guilt overcomes you that you are not getting your
cardiovascular exercise for the day.
But is that wannabe Forrest Gump really
engaging in a healthy activity? What the exercise-crazed spandex-clad hordes of
Denver may not be aware of is that hyperventilating amid throngs of automobiles
ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. The air circulating through your lungs is
saturated with elevated levels of ozone. On many a smoggy day, (there were over
100 in 2019) the air hanging over the city is what the Environmental Protection
Agency calls “in serious violation” of Air Quality Index (AQI) standards.
Essentially, by breathing rapidly and deeply next to a busy Denver street, you
may slowly be poisoning yourself.
A Man-made Hazard
Polluted Skyline: The Denver skyline takes on a New Jersey-esque complexion roughly one out of every three days.
A series of circumstances have coalesced to
form what could be considered a perfect storm of pollution across the city.
Increasing volumes of car exhaust due to population explosion, carbon emissions
from oil and gas mining operations, smoke from fireplaces and woodburning
stoves, emissions from power plants and industrial furnaces and sunlight
reacting with molecular oxygen particles has elevated the ozone levels past the
70 parts per billion (PPB) maximum recommended by the EPA. The aforementioned
100+ days in 2019 involved ozone levels past 80 PPB. The national ambient air
quality standards (NAAQS) were redefined in 2015 after extensive research into
the detrimental health effects of common air pollutants such as ground-level
ozone, particulate matter, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon
monoxide.
In Collaboration With Nature
Smokestacks: Smokestacks may not paint the sky black, but they deliver convincing shades of brown and gray.
What’s more, a global warming-driven
weather phenomenon known as temperature inversions are acting like an invisible
lid — trapping pollution in the troposphere rather than allowing it to
dissipate up through the stratosphere. Yes, the infamous brown cloud of the
1980s that Denver was internationally mocked for is back once again. This time
around, however, like fugly apartment buildings, a whitewashed retail landscape
and gentrification itself — this phenomenon is taking place in metropolitan
areas across the nation.
In a nutshell, ground-level ozone is
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) reacting with
sunlight and atmospheric air molecules. The Denver Regional Council of
Governments estimates that every day, between 250,000 and 350,000 cars are
being driven across the metro region. This transportation sector is the second
largest contributor of greenhouse gases next to industrial emissions. Plus,
there are over 23,000 active oil and natural gas wells across the front range
as well as numerous power plants across the Denver metro region.
A New Agency To The Rescue?
As of January 1, 2020, the Denver
Department of Public Works was renamed the Department of Transportation and
Infrastructure (DOTI) in a symbolic display meant to mark a new chapter of
planned environmental objectives. Among DOTI’s concerns is the Climate Action
Plan launched by the City of Denver in 2007 and rebooted in 2015. This “plan”
presents an “80×50” objective — meaning that through new measures and policies
the city aims for an 80% reduction of emissions (from the 2005 baseline) by
2050. A recent heavy-handed screed issued by Mayor Michael Hancock’s office
outlines a protocol of “aggressive and decisive action” for reducing emissions
through new renewable energy programs, energy efficiency and low operational
cost of electric vehicles. This letter celebrates Denver as having “a long
history of trailblazing when it comes to climate change.” If that is so, why do
pollution levels continue to rise? All of the industrial facilities, oil wells
and natural gas mines on operation require permits, correct? It would seem that
progress, when left to bureaucracy, is inevitably hindered by the inherent
sluggishness of government. Either that, or the tax revenue generated by these
facilities is simply too hard to pass up. Regardless, it would seem that the
climate action plan (CAP) is really just a bunch of crap.
It’s Up To You
Traffic: Many are involved but it’s nobody’s fault.
Like traffic jams — where many people are involved but are usually no singular person’s fault, pollution is the cumulative result of many people simply going about their daily business. As willing participants, the responsibility to reduce emissions should be taken up by the populace without being prompted by finger wagging and knuckle cracking from the hand of big brother. The EPA outlines a simple protocol of steps anyone can take at any time to reduce pollution. For example, you can walk, ride your bike, carpool or take the bus instead of driving a single occupant vehicle. Use slow-burning logs instead of wood in your fireplace, properly inflate your times for better fuel efficiency, use environmentally safe cleaning products and paint, reduce use of air conditioners and furnaces and mulch yard waste instead of simply throwing it away. But, and be realistic, you already knew all this, didn’t you? The issue is whether or not you care enough to endure a bit of inconvenience to do your small part, or if you’re going to carry on as usual — assuming that your neighbors and fellow citizens will pick up the slack while you lumber forth in a smog-laden haze. Theoretically, that’s fine enough, but the problem is — they are probably thinking the exact same thing about you.
Denver’s South Pearl Street saw three
businesses exit the market between November and December 2019, becoming the
latest victims to the city’s rising minimum wage and property taxes.
Tavern: Slumping sales and high taxes forced The Tavern Platt Park to close its doors on December 31, 2019.
Hanson’s Grill & Tavern, a 21-year
neighborhood staple, shut its doors in December. The Platt Park Tavern closed
on New Year’s Eve after four years of business, and Palizo Italiano closed in
November after just two years.
While it’s reasonable for neighborhood
residents to be concerned about the health of their local shopping district,
Mark Gill, Vice President of the Pearl Street Merchants Association says the
closures remind him of a time in South Pearl’s recent past.
“Seven or eight years ago we had a similar
situation where three restaurants all closed at once,” Gill told the Glendale
Cherry Creek Chronicle in an interview. “People were worried then, but the
neighborhood bounced back just fine, in my opinion.”
As a 21-year veteran of the neighborhood,
including the last 14 years as a member of the Merchants Association and an
owner of two buildings in the neighborhood, Gill says the neighborhood has seen
a steady upward trend. However, that hasn’t kept him from seeing some of the
issues businesses in the area face.
“The nature of the neighborhood hasn’t
really changed much,” Gill said. “A majority of the businesses are mom-and-pop.
But, there’s no denying that rents and property values are going up.”
The Chronicle reached out to Hanson’s, the
Platt Park Tavern and Palizo Italiano for comment but didn’t receive a
response.
Outdated Gallagher Problems
The state’s population boom and continued
residential development that follows are causing problems for businesses all
over Denver because of the criteria set forth in the Gallagher Amendment, a
state constitutional amendment passed in 1982 that altered the way Colorado
assessed and collected property taxes.
Long Standing Grill & Tavern: Hanson’s stood at the corner of Louisiana and South Pearl for over two decades before closing shortly before the New Year 2020.
Before the amendment was passed, Colorado
collected its property taxes through a complex set of formulas that most
property tax professionals couldn’t fully comprehend. Afterward, Gallagher
effectively decreased the assessment rates whenever statewide residential
property values increased faster than business property values.
The problem? By maintaining this constant
ratio between residential and business property tax assessments, Gallagher has
essentially prevented Colorado from capitalizing on its expansive residential
growth, leaving businesses to pick up the revenue shortfalls.
The Platt Park Tavern provides a perfect
example of this problem. In 2019, the land and real estate tied to the business
was assessed at value of over $4.5 million. The Tavern ended up paying a little
more than $123,000 in property taxes, according to Denver County property tax
records. In 2018, the business paid just under $97,000 in property taxes.
Meanwhile, a 32,000 sq. ft. mansion in
Cherry Hills Village valued at $22 million paid just under $74,000 in property
taxes for the same year. The mansion’s property tax assessment has dropped
nearly 24 percent since 2016 as well.
For perspective, a residential property
with a tax assessment comparable to the Tavern’s paid roughly $37,000 in
property taxes, according to Zillow.
“Right now, we’re seeing far more residential
development than we were two or three decades ago,” Gill said. “In the end
businesses end up paying for a larger part of a shrinking pie.”
New Minimum Wage Problems
Outside of the property tax issue, small
businesses in Denver have to contend with a minimum wage that is slated to
reach nearly $16 per hour by 2022.
For restaurants, a business with
notoriously tight profit margins, even the slightest increase in labor costs
can be detrimental.
The Colorado Restaurant Association reports
that over 200 new restaurants opened in Denver in 2019. On top of that, the
explosive growth of Colorado’s population and its increased reliance on tourism
to bring new faces to the Centennial State has sent restaurant sales
skyrocketing to $13.9 billion annually.
But, between the lines, Denver’s restaurant
scene is becoming more homogenized with chain and franchise restaurants taking
up most of the retail space in Denver County. Local staples like the original
Snarf’s Sandwiches has had to move through multiple locations as it battles
against its labor costs and property tax assessments.
Even The Denver Post is not sold on the
idea that increasing the minimum wage is right for Colorado. In an article from
October 2019, the Post lamented the wage increase as “an exacerbation of the
cost of living issues in Denver.”
Currently, a restaurant worker making the
city’s $12 per hour minimum will need to work 103 hours per week to afford an
average one-bedroom apartment costing $1,652 per month without paying more than
30 percent of their income on rent.
Meanwhile, restaurant owners are concerned
that the new wage hikes won’t be enough to account for the industry labor
shortage.
“Everything we’ve been hearing from our
members, (they) have been saying, ‘How do we find more workers? We need more
people to be working in our establishments,’” Carolyn Livingston, the
spokeswoman for the Colorado Restaurant Association, told CBS 7.
About one-tenth of Colorado’s workforce
works in the restaurant industry. However, the state’s record-low unemployment
rate has elongated the replacement rate once an employee decides to leave.
Sign Of What’s To Come?
Still, there are signs that South Pearl
Street will pull through. One aspect Gill always points to is that there are
hardly any “For Sale” signs hung in the windows of Pearl Street businesses. In
fact, most are sold by word of mouth these days, Gill says.
The neighborhood is also planning on adding
arches at the Jewel, Iowa, and Louisiana entrances as the Merchants Association
awaits the next rotation of businesses. Gill hopes the aesthetic additions will
help spur growth in the area for years to come.
“South Pearl will rebound. These businesses closing at the same time was just a coincidence,” Gill said. “There will always be people coming and going, and people wanting to come in once the others have left.”
Every 10 years, United States citizens are
asked to respond to the Census which is a questionnaire designed to count the
number of people living in the country. According to the Constitution, the
results of the Census are used to determine the number of United States House
of Representatives each state is designated. Additionally, over $675 billion in
federal funds, grants, and support to states, counties, and communities is
allocated based on information gathered from the Census data. These funds are
then spent nationwide to support essential programs, roads, schools, hospitals,
and more.
State officials use Census results to
redraw the boundaries of their congressional and state legislative districts adapting
to population shifts. Exemplifying its historical significance, the first
Census was completed in 1790 — more than a year after the inauguration of
President Washington and soon before the second session of the first Congress
concluded. Because this data represents such an important part of Colorado’s
future, the United States Census Bureau is recruiting for a variety of
temporary jobs, including Census takers, to assist with the nationwide 2020
count.
“Applying to work as a Census taker is a
great way to make extra money and line up spring and summer employment ahead of
time,” says Laurie Cipriano, Media Specialist for the U.S. Department of
Commerce and U.S. Census Bureau. “Census taker positions offer flexible hours,
paid training, weekly compensation, and reimbursement for expenses such as
mileage for employees doing fieldwork.”
People of all backgrounds are encouraged to
apply, including college students and retirees who are looking for extra income
or a second job. While hourly pay rates vary by position and location, the
Arapahoe County rate is listed between $18.50 and $20.50 and Denver County is
listed as $20.50.
“Participating in the Census is extremely
important because these population changes determine the state’s representation
at the federal level and have a tremendous effect on how our state money is
allocated,” explains Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce Chief Operating
Officer Jeff Allen. “Additionally, everyone’s responses are protected by law
and cannot be shared with a federal or state agency.”
Deemed the largest peacetime deployment of
civil servants across the country, the Census counts every person living in the
United States as of April 1, 2020, which is officially designated as Census
Day. By this date, most homes will receive an invitation to participate online,
by phone, or by mail. For households that do not self-respond, the national
door-to-door enumeration begins in May and ends in July. Additionally, for the
first time ever, citizens have the option to fill out the form online making
the process easy, safe, and secure.
For those interested in Census taker positions, the selection process is underway, with paid training occurring in March and April. Visit www.2020census.gov/jobs for more information.
International Expert Warns ‘There Is No Safe Level Of Lead Exposure’
by Julie Hayden
The Hancock Administration’s aggressive
development projects don’t just endanger the City’s parks, open spaces and
quality of life in its neighborhoods. Some worry they also put the health of
the City’s most vulnerable residents — children and the elderly — at risk.
“Denver has a lead problem,” says community
activist Bridget Walsh. “Just like in other cities like Flint, Michigan, the
lead in Denver’s water in homes and schools, in our air and soil, has been
quietly poisoning our children and us for decades.” Walsh is co-founder of CATE
— Colorado Advocates for Toxin Education, a not-for-profit group of concerned
citizens focusing on promoting education about toxins in our air, water and
environment, and engaging in collaborative efforts to reduce the impact of
toxins on Colorado residents.
To help get the word out and educate the
community, CATE partnered with the Vasquez/I-70 Superfund Site Community
Advisory Group (CAG) and sponsored a series of events featuring Dr. Bruce
Lanphear. He is an internationally recognized expert on the destructive ,
cumulative impacts of even low levels of environmental contaminants and
pollutants on all of us.
Forget everything you thought you knew
about lead exposure and poisoning. Dr. Lanphear emphasizes, “There is no safe
level of lead exposure.” He says 20 years ago, doctors mistakenly believed that
low levels of toxins found in the blood were safe. But he says all of the
current research makes it clear that “low levels of toxins cause irreparable
harm and long-term effects.” He notes even the CDC, Centers for Disease
Control, now states there is no safe level of lead in children’s blood.
Lanphear explains lead has been linked to
physical and cognitive problems in children and impacts IQ. Lanphear cites
studies that show even tiny doses of toxins like lead cause irreversible damage
to children’s brains and bodies. It’s not just children who are harmed. Lead
exposure is also linked to heart disease. Lanphear points out the common
mythology is to blame everything on the individual and focus on lifestyle
choices like smoking, obesity and exercise. But the truth is, Lanphear says
science shows there is an undeniable connection between low level lead exposure
and premature death from cardiovascular disease. Yet, he says, we aren’t doing
enough to hold our institutions accountable for cleaning up lead and other
toxic pollutants.
Walsh points to a study released in 2018
that revealed almost all Denver Public Schools tested positive for lead in the
water. The District addressed the issue when the levels hit a high or
“actionable” level but Lanphear notes again, “No level of lead exposure can be
considered ‘safe.’”
CATE members additionally worry about lead
impacting tens of thousands of Denver residents whose homes still have old lead
water pipes.
The I-70 expansion is also stirring up the
lead issue. Lanphear addressed the Globeville community about that. The I-70
expansion includes a drainage project involving the I-70/Vasquez Superfund
site. Lead and other toxins have been found in the soil there. Neighbors and
others like Walsh fear the development will stir up lead, metals and other
contaminants. “Lead and other toxins like air pollution impact all of us,”
Walsh says, “especially residents who live in heavily industrialized sections
of Denver, close to highways and around big construction projects.”
CATE and CAG members hope Dr. Lanphear’s
message about the cumulative impacts of toxins on our children will encourage
policy makers to adopt what Lanphear calls population strategies that target
lead and other pollutants. “We and our children are being exposed to unhealthy
levels of lead and other toxins in our environment,” Walsh asserts. “It’s time
for Denver residents to arm themselves with the latest scientific facts and
demand that Mayor Michael Hancock and Governor Jared Polis not only recognize
this public health emergency but immediately allocate sufficient funds to define
the extent of the problems and clean it up.
No Safe Level Of Lead In A Child’s Body:
International expert Dr. Bruce Lanphear addresses Globeville residents about
the dangers of even low levels of lead exposure to children and others in the
community.
Walmart Stores, Inc., the parent company of
retail behemoth Walmart, is suing half the counties in Colorado to lower its
property tax bills based on a shady legal idea known simply as the “Dark Store
Theory.”
Largest Retailer: Walmart has 96 locations throughout Colorado, making it the largest retailer in the state.
The theory says that the property value of
a closed down big-box retailer store should be tied to the traditional real
estate sales approach, where valuation is determined by the stores surrounding
it. Under this theory, a Walmart store that is listed for sale for $11 million
while a Hobby Lobby nearby is on the market for $5 million would be overvalued.
But assessors argue that this theory
completely misconstrues what gives a property its value: location. Walmart has
a long history of opening stores in areas that are strategically important to
the company, whether it provides logistical efficiency or a larger labor pool.
This strategy makes the company’s property more valuable because of the
web-like network that comes with it.
Walmart contends that its business
practices should not weigh into the valuation of its stores, and that argument
has gained little traction recently. In July, Colorado’s Board of Equalization
(BOE), the agency that sets property tax values across the state, denied
Walmart’s property tax complaint. This rejection prompted the retailer to issue
its lawsuits in county courts.
In August, a judge in Pulaski County,
Arkansas, rebuked Walmart’s argument that the company should pay fewer property
taxes because their stores are retrofitted to the company’s specific needs and,
therefore, cannot fetch a fair price on the open market.
The case in Pulaski County concerned a 2017
tax assessment of $145 million between Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Neighborhood
Market. Walmart tried to reduce the total assessed property value to $93.8
million, and then slashed the value to $74.3 million, a 48 percent drop.
Opponents argue that if Walmart prevails in
this argument, then the value of an empty store would be set by a vacant lot in
a different state.
Walmart’s Littleton-based attorney Brian
Huebsch tried to find a way around this impasse by arguing that Colorado county
assessors did not account for the store’s 24-hour operability into their
valuations. This causes the company to replace items such as cash registers and
furniture used in daily operations more frequently than other businesses.
Huebsch declined requests to comment on
this story, saying that he doesn’t comment on open cases.
The lawsuit also argues that Walmart is
experiencing difficulty reselling these items because other retailers are
closing, thereby reducing demand and value of the goods.
La Plata County’s assessor Carrie Woodson
told The Durango Herald that she and her staff have not seen evidence of
Walmart reselling its property, despite monitoring the company’s operations for
several years. In fact, Woodson asserts, she believes Walmart is actually just
throwing away their damaged products, making them fully exposed to being taxed.
Over $4.5 million in school district
funding was at stake in the Pulaski case while only $20,000 is at stake in La
Plata.
In Arapahoe County, Walmart sought to
recoup nearly $29 million in property taxes on eight stores located in Aurora,
Centennial, and Englewood. The company argued that “economic depression” of its
furniture and point of sale systems (POS) warranted a 25 percent reduction in
its tax value. Arapahoe County ended up settling the case with Walmart for a
12.8 percent reduction in its tax assessment, essentially handing the company
$14 million.
Other assessors, both in and out of
Colorado, are saying that this tactic is a symptom of a larger disease
spreading throughout corporate America. Namely, that megacorporations are
attempting to use their financial might to beat small counties into submission
in order to lower their property taxes.
One study by CityLab found that over 230
similar property tax claims have been filed across the U.S. since 2015, most of
which ask for a 50 percent reduction in tax assessments. However, a majority of
the claims were settled for 15 percent reductions because counties simply
cannot afford the cost of litigating the claims for as long as corporations
can.
Smaller counties typically feel the brunt
of this argument because of their fiscal constraints. However, all 32 Colorado
counties currently have plans to defend each other when the lawsuits are
brought before a judge.
Walmart brought in over $514 billion in total revenue, and employed over 2.2 million people across the country in 2019. The company earned a gross profit of $126 billion from its revenue. This represents a two-percent increase in profit from 2018. Walmart’s gross profits have increased every year since 1995.
“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.
