Brodo Scratch Kitchen Opening Friday Dec. 12th

Downtown Lakewood's new Italian restaurant, Brodo, opens this Friday, December 12th. Westword has all the details, along with a note about the availability of free appetizers and prosecco on opening night.

Meanwhile, Brodo's regular menu is up for your perusal at http://brodoscratchkitchen.com, and I confess that the steamed mussels look promising!

A Night at the Edge Theater @ 40 West

Just north of downtown Lakewood is the new 40 West Arts District, centered around the new RTD Lamar St. Station and the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design at Pierce and Colfax. Like Belmar, it's an integral part of the effort to revitalize central Lakewood, but while Belmar has been all about new construction, 40 West has been about repurposing underused retail structures into galleries, studios, brewpubs, and theaters.

If you haven't had a chance to explore this area, well, it's pretty darn cool. As a result of the 2nd annual West Colfax Mural Festival last August, there plenty of public art to see, but I recently spent a Saturday evening at the Edge Theater at 1560 Teller St., taking in an original play by award winning playwright David Adjimi.

The play, Marie Antoinette, billed as "not your father's Marie Antoinette," is by turns wild, fun, surreal, tragic, and horrifying, and I can't recommend it enough.

The Edge Theater itself is an intimate space, well-suited to the production of cutting edge theater, and holds a small art gallery and bar. And the fact that's it's in central Lakewood, just minutes away from Belmar, is fantastic.

New Renderings of 5800 W. Alameda Ave. Project

Metro West Housing Solutions is out with new renderings of their 5800 project, which I first reported on in February of 2015.

The $34 million dollar project, to be completed by the second quarter of 2018, will bring add approximately 150 affordable units of housing to the downtown Lakewood area, and will include a courtyard area, playground, and community garden.

Bowlero Lanes at 5480 W Alameda Ave to Become Vintage Car Dealership

You may have noticed work happening at the Bowlero Lanes building at 5480 W Alameda Ave. The bowling alley has been closed for a while now, but the new owners, Elevation Motors, are renovating the space, which is set to become a rare and vintage car dealership.

The empty building had become home to squatters, and graffiti still covers many of the inside walls. As part of the renovation, all but a couple of the original wood bowling lanes were removed, with some of the wood being repurposed into furniture for use at the dealership, and the rest sold off for use in other projects.

The front of the building has some nice, mid-century bones, and I'm expecting the renovation to keep some of the building's retro looks.

Also, from what I've learned about the kind of autos the owners deal in (vintage muscle cars, German classics), I seriously doubt any of these cars will be parked out front. That leaves the question of what Elevation Motors plans to do with the large and dilapidated parking lot that sits between the building and Alameda. Hopefully the renovation budget extends to landscaping, as this project-- done right-- could really enhance this stretch of Alameda.

Brodo Italian Scratch Kitchen to Open in Belmar

Update: Now that Brodo is open, see my 2/20/17 review.

Jane Knauf and Rachel Shaheen, owners of The Wooden Table in Greenwood Village, are getting ready to open new restaurant in Belmar. The restaurant, which they describe as an 'Italian Scratch Kitchen,' will be called Brodo, and will take the place of The Oven and the original Jamba Juice location at 7161 W. Alaska Drive.


Business Den has the details, but Knauf and Shaheen apparently plan to Americanize the fare,  making it less authentically Italian than at their other restaurant.

Personally, this sounds like a terrible idea. With entrees expected to run between $18 and $25, I'm not likely to drop in for red sauce and chicken parmesan. Not unless it goes beyond the 'really good' category and enters that of 'Platonic ideal.'

My worry is that if the good citizens of Lakewood are unwilling to try anything more cutting edge than spaghetti and meatballs, then I'm not sure how Brodo is going to compete with the chains. After all, Mark Tarbell tried much the same thing with the late Mark and Isabella's, and that didn't work out so well.

Of course, I'm no expert on the Lakewood palate. If I were, maybe I wouldn't be so shocked whenever I go by our local Red Lobster and Olive Garden locations and see how many cars are in the parking lots. I mean, really. Sheesh.

The concept at Brodo seems to be one of familiar favorites-- made from scratch and with quality ingredients-- served in an inviting and modern space. Will it be enough? I guess we'll see...

Update:

Voland1935 stresses the involvement of Rachel Shaheen's husband, Brett Shaheen, in Brodo. Brett has an excellent reputation-- Westword, for example, refers to his cooking as "stunning."

It might also be worth taking a look at the Yelp reviews for The Wooden Table. The trend seems to be  excellent food held back only by a 'meh' atmosphere (it's in a strip mall, and the decor is decidedly low-budget). Brodo's Belmar location should solve this problem.

Share Fair Nation, Education Non-Profit, to Renovate Former Library Building at 455 S Pierce St

Share Fair Nation, an education non-profit founded in 2009, has purchased the former Belmar library building at 455 S. Pierce Street in Belmar to be their national headquarters.

The building was most recently home to the Learning Space, another education non-profit. Under the Learning Space, the exterior facade of the former library was renovated with grant funds to make it more energy efficient. Now Share Fair Nation is working on a complete, down-to-the-studs renovation of the interior.

The building is located on the residential side of Belmar, but its use as a national headquarters will likely be unobtrusive for residents. The bigger question (which has likely already been answered-- so if you know, please post below) is what will happen to the Belmar community garden, which has been using land attached to the building for a number of years now.

In Photos: First Friday on Block 7

A (Mini) Farmers' Market for Belmar

If you haven't noticed, the new, mini Belmar farmers' market has been up and running this summer on Teller St.

It's just fresh produce-- no hats, antiques, salsas, or Argentinian empanadas-- but with a "fill a bag for $10" policy, they seemed to be doing a brisk business the afternoon I stopped by.

Target Nixes Free-Standing Qdoba Restaurant for Belmar Over Parking Fears

I reported last year that Qdoba had proposed free-standing restaurant on a pad site in the Best Buy/ Nordstrom's Rack parking lot on the corner of Wadsworth and Alameda.

Well, the plan is apparently dead, killed by Target. The retailer, I've been told, exercised a contractual veto right it holds over any development on the parking lot in question.

If the story I've heard is true, it's really disappointing. As I've said before, there is no shortage of parking in Belmar, and even on weekends when the Target parking lot is full, there's always parking to be had across the street in the covered garage under Whole Foods, or in the multi-story parking garage across from Nordstrom's Rack.

I do know that Target expressed concerns over the construction of the Hyatt House Hotel as well, for the same reason, but was told by the City of Lakewood that building on that surface lot was going forward regardless.

What this tells us is that Target corporate just doesn't get Belmar or New Urbanism.

Pokemon Go Players Everywhere in Downtown Lakewood

About this Pokemon Go thing... wow.

One thing it's done is completely upended the status quo when it comes to just who is walking around downtown Lakewood. Here's a picture taken in Belmar Park, not far from the Belmar Library. On a Tuesday afternoon, the park is usually the preserve of retirees out for a stroll, or the occasional mom jogging with stroller and offspring.

Today, however twenty and thirty somethings were everywhere, walking in groups and pursuing Pokemon. The park felt vibrant and fun, and even though I wasn't playing the game, I couldn't help but smile.

This is what happens when people go walking in urban spaces, this sense of liveliness and spirit. It's also what happens when you get people of every age group together, even if they're all doing their own thing in that space.

So the idea that Pokemon Go has been able to get this missing demographic out of their cars and over to Belmar Park is pretty cool.

Lakewood Sentinel Reports on Village at Belmar Project

In case you've missed it, Clarke Reader over at the Lakewood Sentinel has a good article on the Village at Belmar senior living center that's going up on Alameda across from the downtown Lakewood King Soopers.

http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Belmars-new-senior-facility-taking-shape,229391?

Pause In Belmar Construction as Starwood Takes a Second Look

I've heard recently from a source that Starwood Capital, which purchased Belmar late last year, has decided to move more slowly with development plans, and that there are concerns about the viability of the Shops at Belmar and the planned office building at the corner of Teller St. and Virginia Ave.

The issue with the Shops at Belmar, as I understand it, has to do with the cost of bringing in city water and sewer lines. Construction costs and profitability are apparently also the hold up on the proposed office building at the corner of Teller St and Virginia Ave.

That's all I have for now, but I certainly hope Starwood decides to invest the money and moves forward soon with the build out of Belmar.

South Lakewood Elementary Wins Awards

South Lakewood elementary is one of several Jeffco Public Schools that sit within the boundaries of downtown Lakewood-- in this case, tucked into a very residential, very suburban neighborhood on the northwest side of Alameda and Wadsworth.

The school has also been on somewhat of a roll of late, having won both the national 2016 Jan Harp Domene Diversity and Inclusion Award and the City of Lakewood's 2016 Defender of the Planet Youth Award.

The Jan Harp Domene Diversity and Inclusion Award recognizes Parent-Teacher Associations that "best demonstrate outstanding achievement in the areas of diversity and inclusion, as well as efforts to end discriminatory practices."

According to Sandie Weathers, the PTA President, the group "collaborated with students, teachers, staff, and the community to host a variety of events and activities throughout the school year. These events included our Intercultural Fair, Multicultural Club, Indian Ed Movie Night, and Autism Awareness Month.”

The City of Lakewood's Defender of the Planet Youth Award was given to a group of student leaders at South Lakewood who developed an outreach and education plan regarding renewable energy, water conservation, and waste management. According to the city's press release, "student leaders first taught themselves about the programs and technologies in use at the school and then educated their fellow classmates about how they reduce the school’s environmental impacts."

Keep Colorado Local

I travel a fair bit, and have always noticed how in most other states, liquor sales are dominated by the big grocery chains. Selection is limited, and prices aren't any better than in Colorado.

Belmar's Mile High Wine & Spirits personifies the local character of Colorado's beer and wine sellers: lots of variety, local craft products, knowledgeable staff.

Ballot measures this fall will likely ask voters to upend our current system and allow out of state grocery chains to sell beer, spirits, and full strength beer. While this would make it possible to buy wine and hard liquor at the same time as your groceries, any added convenience would be more than wiped out by the lowest common denominator selection that I've seen in other states.

The big grocery store chains have deep pockets and a lot of incentive to undercut our local independent liquor stores and drive them out of business. And I think there's a legitimate concern that Colorado's amazing craft beer and spirits ecosystem could dry up without outlets like Mile High that are willing to carry their products.

Fortunately, Colorado's small liquor stores are fighting back at Keep Colorado Local.

In Photos: T-Street Roadhouse Grand Opening Event

David Weekley Homes at S. Saulsbury and W. Alaska in Belmar

David Weekley Homes is full steam ahead with their third Belmar location, this time at the corner or S. Saulsbury and W. Alaska. This was the temporary location of the Belmar bocci courts before their relocation to Belmar Square, and had originally been slated for condo construction before the Great Recession.

T-Street Roadhouse: Redefining Fine Dining in Lakewood

The T-Street Roadhouse in Belmar is just about ready to open, and a peak inside reveals a modern vibe that's stylish and hip in a way I've never seen before in Lakewood.

With marble topped tables, Chesterfield sofas in saddle tan leather, and a long bar illuminated by Isamu Noguchi-inspired pendants, the T-Street Roadhouse would be right at home in Denver's LoHi, RiNo, or Cherry Creek.

I'll come right out and say it: if the food's as good as the decor, T-Street is going to be Belmar and downtown Lakewood's first "it" restaurant.

This isn't to say that I don't enjoy the decor in Belmar's current crop of restaurants, but T-Street is clearly going for a more designed, more contemporary look. The only space in Belmar that's as nice, in my view, is the elegant dining room at Little India, which the owners inherited in large part from the now-defunct Mark & Isabella's.

Of course, if nice decor was all that mattered, Mark & Isabella's would still be around. Service matters, as does value, and of course there's the little matter of the food.

So, will the food at T-Street be any good? We'll find out soon enough, but the owners have a good track record, and they're clearly trying to raise the bar on what qualifies as fine dining in Lakewood.

In Photos: New Vistas

For those of us who've lived in Belmar since the beginning (or even the near beginning), it's pretty amazing to walk down the streets of downtown Lakewood and see the new, urban vistas that have sprung up out of the vacant lots to become a part of our daily routine.

Huge Turnout for Democratic Caucuses in Downtown Lakewood

The Democratic caucuses brought out huge crowds in downtown Lakewood last night for the contest between candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Organizers said that, although they were expecting large crowds, actual turnout was four times what had been predicted. Parking was non existent, and long lines formed as people waited to get in.

Owing to the crowds, the process took over three hours. Caucus-goers gathered in the gymnasium at Alameda Junior/Senior High School. Speeches were kept to a minimum, and runners guided voters to the individual classrooms where their precincts organized.

Official results haven't been posted, but my impression from asking around was that Bernie Sanders won roughly two thirds of the delegates in most precincts, with Hillary Clinton picking up the remainder.