Here’s why this Larimer block wants to stay closed to cars while other streets have reopened

Business owners say a permanent closure would help foster a sense of community

By Lily O’Neill, The Denver Post

When Gov. Jared Polis shut down Colorado’s hospitality industry in March 2020 in an emergency effort to keep COVID-19 from spiraling out of control, the view from inside bars, breweries and restaurants looked grim. Most didn’t know if they could survive on takeout alone.

Eventually, onsite dining returned, but with social distancing prohibitions that made it difficult for restaurants to seat enough people to make it worthwhile – unless they had a patio. Within months, many cities, including Denver, enacted temporary measures allowing restaurants to expand their patios and outdoor seating areas as a way to help keep business afloat.

In some cases, entire streets were closed to traffic and filled instead with tables, chairs and greenhouses. These included parts of 25th and 35th streets, Glenarm Place, South Pearl Street, 7th Avenue, and multiple blocks of Larimer Street, including the 2700 and 2900 blocks.

“For many businesses along this stretch, including us, the city’s program saved us,” said James Baetke, general manager of Barcelona Wine Bar, located at 2900 Larimer St. “It allowed us to sustain through some really dark times, especially for food and beverage on this block.”