“I can’t remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride Something touched me deep inside The day the music died”
— Don McLean, American Pie
by Luke Schmaltz
As with any art form, there are dabblers, there are enthusiasts and there are absolute fanatics. For years, Denver has encouraged all manner of minstrels from prodigies and virtuosos to working players and weekend warriors. These dynamics play into the fickle nature of music, as trends turn over at hypersonic speeds — prompting fans to abandon a movement just as quickly as they adopted it before even considering its merit. Similarly, some musicians are quick to call it quits when a new fad, craze or in this case — a pandemic — comes along that does not resonate with their aspirations. Some, on the other hand, refuse to hang it up at any cost.
Way Back When
Before mid-March of 2020, Denver’s diversity made for an exciting ensemble — an aural offering of such variety that just about any night of the week you could find some kind of a sonic display going on, whether it was rock and roll, country, hip-hop, blues, electronica or even the ear-splitting cacophony of a dive bar karaoke night. All this has changed now, as Denver venues have, for the most part, been forced to shut down their operations. Mainstays such as the Gothic, Bluebird, Ogden and Marquee theatres are shuttered along with big venues like Red Rocks, the Fillmore Auditorium, Denver Coliseum, Mission Ballroom, Levitt Pavilion and more. And then there are the little guys — the lifeblood of local musicians and C-circuit touring bands. Places like Lions Lair, Hi-Dive and Larimer Lounge are hanging on by a thread while Live at Jack’s, Armida’s, 3 Kings Tavern and Skylark Lounge have closed permanently.
Lockdown Fallout: Shuttered theatres and out-of-work employees and musicians.
A Fragile Construct
Many a working musician has contended with smug, demeaning and dismissive venue owners and booking managers who think musicians need them and not the other way around. Conversely, many a club manager has dealt with the insufferable whining of fledgling musicians who think they have the world coming to them on a platter just because they can play 12-bar blues. In reality, it’s a symbiotic relationship, with only the hardiest (or luckiest) of either archetype standing a chance of making it out the other side, identity intact. From a musician standpoint, the hobbyists and weekend warriors will sit this one out while the diehard, lifelong players, composers and engineers will grind on — adapting in stubborn overtures of Darwinian survival.
Stalwart Strategies
The Hibernator
Learning Something New: Aaron Howell wants you to learn something new during the pandemic.
Aaron Howell is the captivating singer and frontman for Denver-based hard rock favorites MF Ruckus. An international touring act that has long-graduated from dive bars and house parties, they are the type of mid-to-large-draw touring band forced into hiatus due to mass closure of theatre-sized venues. Not one to easily, if ever, admit defeat — Howell has chosen to see the pandemic through an esoteric lens. “Some of the greatest learnings in human history have happened during times of plague,” he explains. “It’s one of the default settings that we, as musicians, are built to run.”
“There’s an old Russian saying,” Howell continues, “If you chase two rabbits you catch none.” Rather than lose sight of his goals, he has chosen to intensify his focus. Putting his money where his mouth is, Howell has begun expanding his horizons by taking online music courses to enhance his guitar skills. “Now that the world has shut down, the tethers holding us to any excuse to not try new things have frayed away. Although Howell is not all rainbows and sunshine, he does maintain the glint of a steel-tinted silver lining: “I think about quitting every day. But what keeps me going, is that my obsessive completionism won’t let me leave anything unfinished.”
The Prodigy
Tim Merz — aka Timmy Flips — is the dynamic, triple threat creative force behind hybrid punk/metal outfit Red Stinger. Before the shutdown, when he wasn’t arranging complex lyrical hip-hop overtures or riff-heavy rock and roll tunes, he was working as owner/operator/head instructor of Booth Dance Studios — teaching ballroom dance and other disciplines of movement to a large, diverse, demanding student body. Unlike most folks, Merz did not regard the shutdown with dread, as his own physical exhaustion was on course to slow him down one way or another. “When I heard there was a possibility we’d be put on lockdown, it saved my life, really. I had an overwhelming sense of relief because my life got to pause, and I finally got to breathe.”
Triple Threat: Tim Merz aka Timmy Flips aka Twinkle Toes; a lockdown triple threat.
While counterintuitive to most, Merz’s perception of the situation was as unorthodox as his self-appointed artistic trifecta of punk rock, hip-hop and ballroom dance. He wasted no time shifting focus as an overextended teacher to a hyper-productive musician. “Once I accepted the shutdown was imminent, the faucet opened up and I decided to just do me … for the first time ever I was like — what a gift, what a blessing — it was exactly what I needed. Since mid-March, Merz has written a two-person dance piece and a full cast stage dance show, recorded a hip-hop album and written a four-part Red Stinger musical series titled The Stinger Scriptures — soon to be released in four separate recordings.
The Adaptor
Bart McCrorey: Engineering mastermind and musical wizard didn’t skip a “lockdown” beat.
Bart McCrorey is the proprietor and sonic wizard behind the Crash Pad studio as well as a slew of bands including Messiahvore, Throttlebomb, Valio Mierda and The Pitch Invasion to name a few. He has produced and engineered records for tens of dozens if not hundreds of Denver bands over the past 20 years. The shutdown put a serious damper on studio recordings at first, but he was quickly able to switch to working virtually — having musicians send him raw tracks recorded remotely that he could then enhance, add accompaniments to, mix and master to his clients’ content.
Two of McCrorey’s bands have also been among the select acts to participate in Safe and Sound — a music series put on by the Oriental Theater — one of the few large venues to remain in operation during the pandemic. No small feat, as every event must be monitored scrupulously for adherence to social distancing guidelines and capped at 25% occupancy. On the fun side, McCrorey used everyone’s favorite social media garbage chute, Facebook, to introduce an interactive page that threatened to turn the tide from despondent and divisive to upbeat and educational. Riff Book was launched in the early days of the lockdown and quickly grew to nearly 1,000 members sharing guitar licks, songs and solos rather than polarizing rhetoric and sob stories.
The Troubadour
Tony Luke: Discovered abundance amid the scarcity of live music.
Tony Luke unplugged his guitar for only as long as the Colorado governance mandated and not a measure more. The renowned bluesman is locally revered as one of the best in the business — from his generation (X) for sure. Avoiding the popular downtown clubs and trendy hipster bars, Luke prefers the mom and pop dives of the Denver outskirts, which are somewhat removed from the intense scrutiny of most establishments near the city’s popular epicenter. After being forced to take nearly three months off (April through June) Luke began playing his local circuit of small venues tucked away in suburban strip malls and semi-rural thoroughfares. Contrary to Aaron Howell’s aforementioned MF Ruckus, Luke’s band is just the right size of small but mighty. “Bands that are bigger fish present a problem for venues right now and no one wants to book them,” he attests. “But I’m a roadhouse band, so I play for existing audiences and turn them into fans by the end of the night.”
Luke was pleasantly surprised that bar patrons were overly exuberant and yes, even thankful for live music in unprecedented ways. “I have found success in the pandemic because people are starved for music,” he explains. “My tip jars have tripled from 80 dollars or so to sometimes 300 and 400 bucks a night.” He chooses to view the circumstances through a romantic lens of sorts, stating “I am seeing this time as a sort of renaissance of the old-time juke-joint type of blues nights. You know, when there were no other shows going on and no big concerts — just a couple guys on a small stage in a little bar and people really, really appreciated the music.”
In a year when tensions between police departments and the general public are at an all-time high, the notion of appointing individuals to act as liaisons between cops and civilians sounds like a smart, albeit complicated idea. Community Resource Officers (CROs) are assigned to do exactly that and are commissioned to address the non-emergency concerns of citizens ranging from issues such as neighborhood awareness, personal safety and reporting crimes after the fact.
Work Together: To affect positive change, citizens and cops may have to learn to work together.
This year has no doubt been especially challenging for CROs, as law enforcement at large is being subjected to hyper-focused scrutiny from mainstream news sources, alternative media outlets and many sectors of the general public. While it is true that the terrible actions of the few have sullied the perception of the character of the many, effective law enforcement holds an ever-crucial role in American society.
Apply A Bit Of Objective Reason
The cry to “defund the police” some citizens argue is an ill-conceived notion that, if legislated upon, would lead to extreme danger. They see a society without law enforcement, especially one as armed, addicted, and mentally afflicted as America, would quickly deteriorate into a dystopian dust bowl of lawlessness. Yet, the current climate is placing unprecedented pressure on police departments nationwide to acknowledge, address, and correct the long-standing stigmas of racism, murder, corruption and inadequate responses to common situations.
Oftentimes, the above stereotypes are perpetuated because police officers are dispatched to circumstances which they are not trained to handle such as ongoing domestic disputes, disagreements between neighbors and mentally challenged individuals who are under extreme duress. Such instances highlight the importance of CROs, and how engaging with them can help residents understand when making a 9-1-1 call is the right move and when a non-emergency situation can be handled through more effective means. Perhaps most importantly, the Denver Police Department (denvergov.org) offers a comprehensive neighborhood watch program,
Officers: Denver Community Resource Officers.
Find Out What’s Going On
Believe it or not, some citizens may not realize that some “call 9-1-1” situations can be avoided through crime prevention. Denver Community Resource Officers hold regular meetings via their respective district headquarters which are open to the public. Due to Covid-19 precautions, these meetings have been temporarily switched to online Zoom format — hosted by specific neighborhood organizations. Regardless, these meetings are designed to equip residents with ample “Neighborhood Watch” signage for deterring residential crime and to provide crucial information on crime rates and the most recent trends in theft. Further, the DPD website offers comprehensive information on pinpointing and reporting gang activity, graffiti removal, crime statistics and maps, anonymous reporting, volunteer-operated neighborhood “Cop Shops,” victim services and more. Recently, Community Resource Officer for District 3, Kate Young, met with Baker residents in a socially distanced outdoor setting to listen to concerns and offer advice on the best ways to deal with homeless camps, midnight backyard prowlers, and license plate theft.
Get Involved
While it is by no means any citizen’s responsibility to do the job of the police, a little concern and outgoing action can go a long way — and maybe even save a life. A person can report the descriptions of people you see committing crimes such as theft, vandalism and assault. You can also write down the license plate numbers of hit-and-run drivers or burglary getaway cars. Such instances of involvement not only establish communication between your community and local law enforcement, they can also create trust between these two divided sectors of society while enhancing the overall safety of the neighborhood. Meanwhile, it is important to understand that CROs stress that taking care of your own safety first in a crisis — NOT putting yourself in greater danger — is job number one.
9-1-1: Some circumstances requiring civil servant involvement are not always 9-1-1 emergencies.
Connect On Social Media
DPD is also trying to connect with residents via Nextdoor — a social media platform dedicated to connecting residents of specific neighborhoods within a specific sector of a city. Their page on this platform, however, is more of an informal message board that is not monitored 24/7 and is not a replacement for dialing 911. Citizens with video footage from their doorbell cameras or their smartphones can upload footage of burglars, prowlers and crimes along with incident reports directly onto the DPD Nextdoor page. This is, of course, in addition to making a formal report via the DPD non-emergency number; 720-913-STOP (7867). Posting on this platform and on the DPD thread is particularly useful because other residents can have access to the video feeds, images and descriptions that help them identify danger before the fact or, at the very least, add to the reports of specific incidents and individuals who are out committing crimes. The page also provides tips on preventing theft of motorcycles, scooters, cars, trucks and license plates as well as the protocols for reporting street racing.
Boots On The Ground?
At this point in 2020, Denver Police Department CROs may either be performing a high-wire act or simply tip-toeing on eggshells. This may explain why attempts to contact six different CROs and one volunteer were met with neutral responses. Former CRO Bob Anderson replied to email interview questions by explaining: “I am no longer assigned as a CRO, as I have moved on to a different assignment within the police department. These are all good questions and I have copied the District 1 CRO team on this response so they can respond to your request. Thank you.”
Defund The Police: Some folks who subscribe to logic and reason agree that this is a terrible idea.
Meanwhile, CRO Kate Young answered a phone call, yet declined an interview or the opportunity to respond to questions about CRO protocol stating: “We have to run our answers by our supervisors before we can say anything to the press. I will try and get back to you before your deadline.”
Lastly, DPD volunteer Christie Mochoruk offered: “Through my personal experiences volunteering with DPD, I’ve witnessed many partnerships formed between our Officers and residents, once those in our community understood how and who to communicate with and the best way to utilize the many resources available to them. I would love to answer some of your questions, but I will need to reach out to the Officers first for permission, as I’m only a volunteer and want to ensure the integrity of the information being shared comes across in the most effective way.”
There was no further reply in the 55+ hours left on this journalist’s assignment hourglass between Monday, October 12 at 7 a.m. and Wednesday, October 14 at 1 p.m.
Perhaps they were all too busy making the rounds in their respective jurisdictions, or maybe the role of CROs is primarily one of forward-facing PR significance and not much else. One thing is for sure; currently there is not enough continual engagement between the public and the CROs to make a noticeable dent in crime and to assuage the general public disdain towards the police. This makes one thing clear — if you’re a citizen who wants things to improve — you’re going to have to meet your CRO halfway.
On the corner of Emerson and the 900 block of E. 1st Ave. in Denver’s Speer neighborhood sits Carmen Court — a 95-year-old piece of Denver history that is figuratively torn apart, a notion that could soon take place in the literal sense.
The forces at work here are three-fold, involving the will of the owner occupants, the wishes of the surrounding neighborhood and the financial leverage of an international real-estate development company.
From The Inside Out
The owners of the six condominium units at Carmen Court — a Pueblo Revival Style multi-family complex built in 1925 are looking at a financial windfall. According to an article by BusinessDen.com, the entire property has a list value of $5.5 million, indicating that the owners of each unit could anticipate an average payout of $916,000.
1925: Carmen Court as it appeared after its 1925 completion by builder Burt Rhoads, an engineer for the Gates Rubber Company.
The owner-occupants of Carmen Court recently aligned with the property owners of the three residential lots to the south in order to broker a deal to sell the dirt beneath the buildings to Hines, a Texas-based real estate investment, development and management firm that plans to erect a five+ story assisted living facility. One of the terms of this deal is that the owners will arrange to have the properties demolished before Hines will close on the contract. Upon applying for a permit to do so and then posting said permit as required by law, there was significant outcry among the area residents. This prompted neighbors to seek a preservation-minded approach by filing for Carmen Court to bear a landmark designation status.
The numerous “No Trespassing” signs made it apparent that knocking on doors for an interview was ill advised. Yet, numerous stories from other news sources confirm that Carmen Court residents are not interested in the preservation approach, citing a unanimous desire to sell rather than incurring the increasingly costly expense of upkeep on a century-old building.
From The Outside In
Neighbors, members of the West Washington Park Neighborhood Association, and an amalgam of Denver-based architects and preservationists, have come together to form Friends of Carmen Court (FoCC). Contrary to what the name suggests, members of FoCC do not share the same vision as the current owner occupants. From the FoCC’s perspective, however, the proposed nine-lot development plan represents a potential monstrosity that will further erase the heritage and identity of their community.
Vying For Historical Landmark: Proponents of historical landmark designation claim Carmen Court was built in the Pueblo Revival Style. Yet, it bears resemblance to Mediterranean villas and lacks the style’s signature round roof beams known as “vigas.”
While the residents of Carmen Court are obviously interested in selling and moving on, the FoCC have other motivations. Mark Harris, a group member and one of the three neighbors required for the filing of the landmark designation states via email: “We, the three near neighbors, have been in discussions with the owners and Hines on how the building can have an adaptive re-use within the new development. We are also trying to find another buyer to step in and develop the site while preserving the building. We are not trying to prevent density or new development in our neighborhood; we’re just trying to save an important building from ending up in the landfill. While some have painted the picture as an either-or, we see it as both-and. Hines can buy the building from the owners at their asking price, and still save the building by incorporating it into their new development. We have just all agreed on a 45-day extension to allow for time to reach an agreement before the issue is in front of City Council on Nov 2nd.”
Meanwhile, FoCC member Sarah McCarthy voices a community-wide aesthetic concern about the idea of losing Carmen Court, stating: “It’s really part of the neighborhood. It is truly unique in its landscaping and design. The owners may not be interested in (historical) designation, but we see the building as having a larger architectural and historical significance.”
From The Top Looking Down
The proposed compromise would require Hines to preserve the exterior integrity of Carmen Court, and perhaps repurpose the condos for reception areas, dining facilities or street-level storage while somehow erecting a multi-story assisted living facility around the existing structure. While this sort of a compromise sounds a bit farfetched, it is not unheard of in other redeveloping parts of Denver. Recently, similar historical landmark designations have been passed for places like Tom’s Diner on Colfax and the Howard Berkeley Park Chapel of Tennyson St. While both involved some level of compromise, neither included building a high-rise residential behemoth atop a century-old structure.
Signs: In addition to the red signs, Carmen Court is replete with “No Trespassing” signs to ward off nosy journalists.
Hines Managing Director Chris Crawford, while unavailable for comment, was recently quoted on the matter at Business Den.com. He indicated that Hines would consider walking away if another developer would agree to taking over the existing contract with the Carmen Court owners. This new developer, in the event of a historical designation being assigned to the property, would have to build around the existing structure while assuring that Hines be reimbursed for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred thus far.
While a land swap with another developer was discussed, the deal was turned down by Hines due to the location of the other property. At any rate, whether an historical designation is assigned to the property is up to what the Denver City Council decides when the 45-day extension is up in mid-October. If so, the next step is up to the willingness of the Development Industrial Complex to settle for a compromise. If there is no historical designation, you can bet there will soon likely be no Carmen Court.
At any rate, the fate of Carmen Court is yet unknown, but currently it appears to be in the hands of those who have the least to lose.
(BPT) – By Dr. Bela Sood, MD, child and adolescent psychiatrist and senior mental health policy professor at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.
This pandemic is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced, so how can we help our children cope, especially when we’re also feeling anxious? The key lies in acknowledging our own fears and concerns, while understanding how each individual child handles emotional challenges.
Parenting is hard. Parenting during a pandemic can feel especially challenging as you balance changes in work, home and school. Here’s how you can provide support and reassurance, whatever your child’s stage of development.
Start with yourself
Even infants pick up on their parents’ moods, so your emotional state will affect how your children cope.
As instructed on airplanes, during turbulence you should put on your own oxygen mask before helping others. The same is true of turbulent times: Take care of yourself first.
Reflect on how you feel: Are you angry about disrupted routines? Worried about the future? Missing loved ones? When you’re stressed, practice self-care: Exercise, meditate or talk with a friend. This will help you feel more “centered” so you can model calm, positive attitudes and behavior.
Limit media exposure
It’s easy to become overwhelmed by negative news. Stay with your children during news reports and encourage them to ask questions. Limit your own exposure too, as it can affect your mood.
Consider your child’s stage of development
Babies and toddlers won’t understand what’s happening, but they respond to emotional cues. Though it’s not always easy, if you can stay calm and positive, they’re more likely to relax.
Maintain routines, as all children thrive on predictable schedules. Knowing when to expect meals, playtime and bedtime helps them feel more safe and secure.
Preschoolers have many questions about everything, but keep your explanations simple. Discuss the virus as being like a very bad cold or flu when explaining why everyone is wearing masks or why they can’t go on play dates.
Validate your child’s feelings by saying, “I understand you’re upset right now,” or “It’s okay to miss grandma. I miss her too.”
Let your children connect with others safely. Make video calls to relatives or socialize with a small group of neighbors outdoors while practicing social distancing. Help your child write letters to friends.
School-aged children are more peer-oriented, but they still appreciate spending time with parents. It’s a great opportunity to start new hobbies together, while also letting them pursue their own interests.
If your children appear anxious, angry or sad, encourage them to talk about it. Share how you’re feeling, too. Establish a weekly “check-in” dinner where everyone has a turn to express their feelings.
Include children in chores and activities that give them a feeling of control. Let them assume responsibilities like folding laundry or cleaning, offering choices about what activities they prefer.
Teenagers are beginning to separate psychologically from their parents, so being forced to be together all day can be tough on them, as well as on parents! Older teens are missing out on significant milestones, like homecoming, sports or performing arts, which may be important parts of their identities.
Put yourself in your teen’s shoes. This period is hardest for teens who derive energy from peer interactions. Show empathy by saying, “This must be so disappointing for you.” Help them find creative ways to make this time memorable and connect with peers who practice social distancing. The weekly family dinner may be the perfect time to listen to your teen and problem-solve together.
Warning signs
It’s normal for kids to occasionally seem sad, anxious or angry. Encourage them to voice their feelings and acknowledge that it’s okay for them to feel that way.
If your child becomes increasingly withdrawn, disconnected or obsessed with video games or other self-isolating activities, it may be a signal that they’re preoccupied with worries about the future or other topics. Try drawing them out to determine whether you should seek their pediatrician’s advice. It’s challenging to keep children entertained at home 24/7, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Offer additional social support from close friends and relatives.
If you think it would help them to get counseling and they’re reluctant, tell them that when you’re in trouble, you seek help. Let them choose whether to participate or not. If your child is unwilling to talk to a counselor, you may find it helpful to see a therapist to share observations of your child, get a better understanding of what may be happening and develop strategies to support them.
The Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center reopened for reservations on June 25, 2020, after being closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Staff members, wearing masks and having been retrained for enhanced cleaning technologies, were eager to greet guests as they checked in for the first time in months.
Outdoor Pool: The Arapahoe Springs pool now requires reservations. Each guest can choose between an 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. slot for each night of their stay. A limited number of guests are allowed in for each time slot.
The reopening comes with limited capacity and strict social distancing measures. The resort has set up directional arrows for walking throughout the resort, hand sanitizing stations throughout, and limited restaurant availability. The Mountain Pass Sports Bar, which features a 75-foot viewing screen, the largest in the state, is the only restaurant open. In addition, the Arapahoe Springs Bar & Grill near the pool, Rockies Marketplace, and the taco bar near the Pinyons bar are other options. The Pinyons bar now forms a single file line to order drinks which allows for social distancing. For the time being, the other restaurants are closed. However, the resort does allow outside food to be brought in. Convenient options are services such as Uber Eats or GrubHub.
The Arapahoe Springs pool area is now under a reservation only system. Guests can choose either an 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. slot. The pool closes from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. every day for enhanced cleaning measures. These reservations allow staff to monitor how many people are in the pool for each time slot and limit the number of guests there at once. For guests with younger kids, it is recommended to reserve the 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift as the pools and lazy river are less crowded during that time slot.
The pools are definitely the resort’s main attraction. There is an indoor and outdoor pool (which includes an infinity pool), an outdoor lazy river, and three water slides. This water park is spread out over 22,000 square-feet which allows for proper social distancing. The entire resort is situated on 85 acres of land, so it never feels crowded even under normal circumstances. Guests can reserve a cabana if they want their own dedicated space. Or they may snag a chair by the lazy river and relax.
Every night at 9 p.m., the resort plays a kid-friendly movie on the lawn with plenty of room for families to spread out. They also have games such as bingo on the lawn. The activities are less than usual but it is still a nice getaway if families feel the need to get away for a couple of days yet are not ready to jump on an airplane.
Gaylord Rockies is near Denver International Airport and is a Marriott property that opened in December 2018. The 486,000 square feet of convention space makes it the largest combined resort and convention center in Colorado. It is the fifth Gaylord property to open with the others located in Washington, D.C, Nashville, Orlando, and Dallas.
The Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center is located at 6700 North Gaylord Rockies Boulevard. For more information about the resort or to make a reservation, visit www.gaylordrockies.com.
On May 26, 2020, during a televised press conference, Colorado Governor Jared Polis made a statement that turned more than just a few service industry heads.
New Space: Glendale’s Bull & Bush got the jump on outdoor seating through an expedited application process.
He suggested that Denver restaurants, upon reopening after the forced Covid-19 closure, commandeer adjacent outdoor areas, parking lots and even residential yard space so that they could increase their serving capacities under the current social distancing regulations. To many, the idea must have initially sounded farfetched and perhaps a bit naive. Yet now, for most establishments looking to resume business while complying with Department of Health regulations, this tactic may be their only hope.
Impossible Rules?
Governor: Colorado Governor Jared Polis stepped in to help restaurants quickly get approved for outdoor seating.
The restrictions on reopening are many and read like a restaurateur’s worst nightmare. Most involve distancing measures not only between patrons, but between employees as well (six feet seems to be a figure of ubiquity) and as anyone who has worked in a restaurant knows, following such a stipulation in a kitchen, behind a host stand, behind a bar or in a wait station is practically impossible. Navigating this turbulent stretch of the proverbial reopening waters seems daunting enough, that is, until you get to the part about capacity limits. All establishments must keep tables, yep you guessed it, six feet apart and can seat only up to 50% capacity or 175 people — whichever is less. Yet, realizing that restaurants employ 10% of Colorado’s workforce (300,000 people) leaders like Polis are urging proprietors and service professionals to get back to work — a crucial step in offsetting the economic disaster that looms on the horizon.
Uncertainty With A Side Of Harsh
So far, restaurants across the Mile High City in districts such as Glendale, LoDo and many others are getting creative with their proximal outdoor spaces. This unprecedented period of reopening could be deemed as a restaurant’s life support phase before either recovering enough to be released from the ICU or giving up and pulling the plug. After being shut down for three months (takeout and delivery notwithstanding) many places are simply unable to recover after such an extended hiatus from revenue and have already thrown in the towel. According to the National Restaurant Association, revenue losses through April 2020 are estimated at $80 billion and project to be as high as $240 billion through the end of the year. While (sadly) many restaurants forced to close are one-of-a-kind, mom and pop joints, several national chain restaurants are being forced into early retirement as well.
The New Abnormal
Despite the setbacks, some establishments with a loyal clientele and a strong identity across the neighborhood culture are attempting to forge forth. In doing so, however, they are forced to cut indoor capacities in half. This is where auxiliary external spaces turned into temporary seating areas can make a big difference. Bull & Bush Brewery (4700 Cherry Creek South Dr.) co-owners David and Erik Peterson have opted for a temporary exterior expansion. “So far it’s working out quite well,” David explains. “The waitstaff are all young, energetic and eager to work — so to them a few extra steps is no big deal.” While a recent Friday afternoon lunch service was moderately busy at best, Peterson was confident that the evening’s numbers would be many times greater — meaning that his overflow patio would indeed be helping circumvent the restrictions so that the restaurant could operate at an optimal capacity.
Another long time Glendale business, Shotgun Willie’s, has had to reimagine what their footprint looks like and how they can maximize their space while adhering to guidelines. When businesses were shut down, they shifted their sister company TBar (adjacent to Shotgun Willie’s) to a To-Go food and liquor business. They were even able to run some car washes during the warmer days to help generate some revenue which owner Debbie Matthews allowed her employees to keep. “I wanted to make sure when we reopened, that some of my most loyal and hard-working employees would come back,” said Debbie Matthews, owner of Shotgun Willie’s. “We got creative and kept Shotgun Willie’s and TBar on people’s minds. Now, having reopened, Shotgun Willie’s and TBar are seeing loyal customers return. They are both open for business at noon, seven days a week.
TBar: Jeremy Marshall stands inside TBar Patio which is the bar adjacent to Shotgun Willie’s at 490 S. Colorado Blvd. TBar Patio has an open-air concept and serves cold draft beer, specialty cocktails, and has plenty of games to choose from.
Unlikely Allies
While restaurant owners/managers have often found dealing with the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses to be highly challenging, getting approval for outdoor seating areas has been fast and easy for most. Whereas pre-Covid-19, garnering such clearance would have taken weeks or even months from an agency that is notorious for red tape, miscommunication and outright hostility toward businesspeople. Observations aside, the truth behind the sudden expediency is that on June 5, Governor Polis signed an executive order requiring that the Department of Revenue and the Liquor Enforcement Division respond to applications for extended seating/serving areas within 24 hours. The order allows restaurants to extend dining areas up to 1,000 feet of their entryways while allowing the consumption of alcoholic beverages within these areas as well.
Expansion: Esters has expanded into their parking lot in order to adhere to new regulations and serve at an optimal capacity. Pictured here is Paul Sullivan, owner of Esters Neighborhood Pub
Determined Stalwarts
Meanwhile, Esters at 1950 S. Holly has expanded outdoor seating into the adjacent strip mall parking lot. A staff member explained that an application was recently submitted and approved — giving the place the green light to expand seating by 40 guests at the start of the third week of June. “This is not something we would have normally done,” said Paul Sullivan, owner of Esters Neighborhood Pub. “This gives us open air seating which I think people are looking for. The landlord at this location and the other tenants were cooperative on getting this going and adjusting to our new reality of what people want in a dining experience. I am thankful we are allowed to do this, I hope people enjoy it, and I feel this is going to help us survive this tough time.”
Beer Garden: Blake Street Tavern has expanded their serving capacity and are now “in the beer garden business.”
Further west into LoDo, longtime area staple Blake Street Tavern is ahead of the curve. Of the 700+ Denver restaurants who applied for additional patio space permits, they are already serving meals in their parking lot like their aforementioned Glendale counterparts. In a recent piece published by CBS4, owner Chris Fuselier states, “We’re in the beer garden business now. It’s all about outdoor dining.” Although Colorado is beloved for 300+ days of sunshine per year, that was not the case the day Blake Street opened their temporary beer garden, as violent winds showed up without a reservation and made for an interesting afternoon. This brings to light another potential issue: While the additional seating remedy is seasonal at best and better than nothing at all, inclement Colorado weather that hits hard and fast can cause inadvertent violations. Should an outdoor area need to be evacuated quickly, a bunch of patrons being herded indoors will take the social distancing regulations and scrape them into the trash bin.
Silver Linings
Perhaps on the brighter side, diminished capacity of all restaurants still in business as well as the closure of so many others could present a boon for places like Bull & Bush, Esters and Blake Street Tavern, as other establishments competing for the dollars of patrons could be at an all-time low. Yet the question remains whether a society that has been cooped up for three months is ready to go out to eat again, or if they are still skittish — content to stay at home and dine with caution.
