Editor’s Note: Spread Some Love
Resolve To Support Local Businesses In A Tough Year Ahead
By Cara DeGette
GPHN Editor
The next year, maybe even four, are going to be tough for many. And we’re not just talking about what’s going to happen in our nation’s capital.
Fueled by $150 million in federal cash, the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit project has broken ground. The plan is to install bus lanes down the center of Colfax Street from Broadway east to Aurora, at Yosemite Street. Along that stretch, car traffic will be reduced from two lanes to one in each direction. Much of the car parking on Colfax will be eliminated.
City boosters have been promoting the plan for several years. Neighborhood leaders aren’t as convinced BRT is a good thing, and neither are many people who live just north and south of Colfax, who will certainly be impacted by increased car traffic in their neighborhoods.
The owners of businesses along Colfax — who will be hit hard by disruptions from construction and the resulting loss of customer access — are already experiencing pain.
Last month, two Colfax establishments closed. Fiction Beer, the taproom at 7101 E. Colfax, closed after a 10-year run. In a December Westword story about the closing, co-owner Christa Kilpatrick cited burnout and a need to have a less stressful future. A second Fiction brewery, in Parker, remains open.
GB Fish and Chips, which served up traditional British fare at its 5325 E. Colfax Ave. location, also closed, without much warning. The restaurant’s three other locations — near Sloan’s Lake, on South Broadway and in Arvada — remain open.
Last month, one of the owners of Ed Moore Florist at 6101 E. Colfax — a delightful shop filled with flowers, plants, cards, balloons and whimsical gifts — reported it is struggling. The store has been in the neighborhood for 75 years, filling Park Hill homes with stunning floral arrangements and also providing donations and support to local schools and to the Park Hill Home Tour.
The owners of Viva! Mexican Coffee Shop at 4900 E. Colfax are also worried about the future. The husband-wife team only recently opened the artsy Latin-accented coffee shop — a longtime dream. Their reality right now? Road construction, making it hard for customers to get to their front door.
Ed Moore Florist and Viva! Mexi are just two of dozens of independently-owned restaurants and shops in the neighborhood and especially on Colfax, that need support right now.
Go give them all some love.
Need some inspiration? Our December issue last month featured our first-ever restaurant guide of 75 independently-owned eating and drinking establishments in and around Park Hill. If you missed the guide, you can access it at tinyurl.com/PHEatDrink.
Unfortunately, the print version of the guide inadvertently omitted Long Table Brewhouse. The establishment is at 2895 Fairfax St. at the corner of 29th and Fairfax Street. Long Table occupies a renovated building that dates back to the 20s. It serves up some memorable craft beer. They’re open seven days a week, so you know what to do.
Last month, we also published a list of all of the businesses that advertised in the newspaper in 2024. The Greater Park Hill News, which has published since 1960, relies on support from the community. Our advertisers allow us to make that happen.
The next time you patronize one of these businesses, please let them know you appreciate their advertising choice – it means the world to us.
Happy New Year.