Business Matters is a monthly column on the changing landscape of business and development in north Denver. If there are any inquiries on new developments in your area, or if you are a local business wishing to highlight an upcoming milestone, email Christy Steadman at csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com.

Development

Olin Apartments

Last month, Denver City Council approved two contracts for affordable housing. Denver’s Department of Housing stability will give a $1.5 million loan for the renovation of the Olin Apartments at 1420 Logan St. in Capitol Hill.

The property there is a century old and was formerly a hotel, according to a news release from the city. It was converted to housing for seniors in 1982. Senior Housing Options, a company which helps connect people to quality housing, is handling the renovation on the building. The renovation of the property will also add five new units, bringing its total to 112.

The units are income-restricted and reserved for seniors or individuals with disabilities, according to the news release.

The loan from the city will help fund the renovation of 34 of the units for residents making 30% of the area median income.

The loan from the city will be paid for through the federal HOME Investments Partnerships Program, according to the news release.

Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row

The downtown location of LoDo’s Bar & Grill, 1946 Market St., is closing in 2020 to undergo renovation and become a fifth location for the national chain, Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row.

According to Business Den, LoDo’s is expected to close this spring to commence construction. It is expected to reopen as the new establishment in time for the Colorado Rockies’ opening day in 2021.

Historic Evans School

City Street Investors, which co-developed Union Station, has entered into a joint venture to purchase and develop a protected Denver landmark at 1115 Acoma St.

The building was built in the early 1900s and formerly served as an elementary school until the 1970s. It has been vacant since, aside from hosting an occasional special event or as short-term office space.

Investors plan to solicit community feedback on the use of the building in the coming months.

City Street Investors is also working with Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods to build a new community cafe at the Tears-McFarlane House near Cheesman Park. For more information, read our story at https://lifeoncaphill.com/stories/a-place-to-gather-near-cheesman,290720.

Business

Openings

Capitol Eyebrow Threading

Capitol Eyebrow Threading opened at 1205 E. Ninth Avenue last year. The business offers eyebrow threading, which trims eyebrows using string.

Slater’s 50/50

A franchise famous for its burgers, called Slater’s 50/50, is expected to open this May in The Hub, 3601 Walnut St. The Hub is a coworking space in the River North neighborhood. It will be the chain’s first location in Colorado.

Slater’s 50/50 began in California about 10 years ago, and now has 11 restaurants in the U.S., with six more to come, including the Denver location. The 50/50 in the name comes from the burger patties being made of 50% bacon and 50% ground beef.

The Diamond Reserve

The Diamond Reserve, a custom jewelry and loose diamond retailer, is opening a second location on the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver.

Kaeleigh Testwuide, the Diamond Reserve’s owner and president, opened the first location, 100 Fillmore St. Suite 552 in Cherry Creek North, in 2015. The second location is in a 250-square-foot space at 1400 16th St.

Operating as appointment-only, rather than drop in-and-browse, the Diamond Reserve prides itself on the diamond education it provides to customers.

“We really try to help our clients protect themselves in their purchase,” Testwuide said in a news release. “And I think there’s a demand for that downtown.”

Closings

C Squared Ciders

The 4-year-old cidery closed its taproom and production facility in the River North neighborhood and is moving to Penrose, Colorado. C Squared Ciders will be on a 5-acre property in the unincorporated community, which is about 100 miles south of Denver. The RiNo location of the cidery was at 2875 Blake St. It shared the warehouse space with Bierstadt Lagerhaus.

In a news release from C Squared, co-owner Andy Brown said the larger property will allow them to grow cider apples and expand production. He added that the area was well known for apple growing at one time, until a drought in the early 2000s. Brown said he hopes to connect with the thriving agriculture there.

“With this move we can grow our business and create a meaningful connection to the land and local agriculture,” he said. “We can also help resurrect a vital bygone part of the agriculture economy in Fremont County, which deserves a second chance.”

The cidery will also be saving around $12,000 a month by moving out of Denver, Brown said, saying the money can be paid toward his own mortgage rather than rising rent costs.

The Spring Café

The Spring Café, 1373 Grant St. in Capitol Hill, closed in December because of a lack of refugee workers, according to the Colorado Sun.

The Colorado Sun states that the “Spring Institute, the nonprofit behind Spring Café, says it can’t justify continuing to lose money on an initiative that doesn’t achieve its mission to help refugees.”

The Rolling Pin

The Rolling Pin Bakeshop, 2716 Welton St., closed in November after only three years of operation.

The bakery’s owners decided not to renew a lease.

Changes

The Green Solution

The Green Solution, a large Colorado marijuana dispensary, has reached a deal to be purchased by Columbia Care Inc., a publicly traded cannabis corporation based in Canada.

The Green Solution has 20 locations across Colorado, with four in Denver. It is one of the largest dispensary chains in the state. The purchase totals about $140 million, according to Westword.