The nearly 90-year-old building that sits on the corner of Colfax Avenue and York Street has been vacant ever since Abend Gallery moved downtown in May of 2017 — windows papered over and little sign of movement.
But now, there's movement. And actual signs about the future.
The development at 2260 E. Colfax Ave. is a project of St. Charles Town Company, the Denver-based development company behind Lowenstein Theater (the Sie), Wynkoop Brewing Co., Sloan's Lakefront Market and more. Signs in the windows advertise Hot Mamas Exercise, Smith + Canon Ice Cream and Soda Fountain and Hinman's Bakery.
In a press release last year, St. Charles Town Co. president Charles Woolley said there were plans for as many as seven tenants, and Woolley tells Denverite that's still the plan today. They're hoping to get a few beverage providers in there, including someone to open up a beer garden on the newly renovated back patio.
The company purchased the 10,600-square-foot space for $1.15 million on May 15, 2017, according to the release.
"We do a lot of historic preservation work and I just think it’s one of the coolest buildings on Colfax right now -- love the tile and the Mediterranean revival style, the store fronts are awesome," Woolley told Denverite. "It’s just a great little jewel box on a corner."
The 1930 building was designed by Harry Edbrooke, the architect behind the Bluebird Theater and the Ogden Theatre. It was first occupied by Rexall Drug Store, then the Rainbow Grocery, Wild Oats and, finally, Abend. When Abend bought it in 2007, it went for $800,000.
St. Charles Town Company also purchased the small house and retail building just to the west of 2260 Colfax Ave. and they're "just doing studies to see how these two buildings integrate," Woolley said.
There's still some work to be done on the corner building — one challenge in particular was an unusual underground electrical system — but Woolley said they're on track to move tenants in in 60 to 90 days.
This story has been updated throughout.
Correction: In an earlier version of this story, 2669 Larimer St. was listed as a St. Charles Town Company project. While the building is still listed on the company's website, it is no longer a St. Charles Town Company development.
