Baker Historic

Along with the the Arvada location, Griff’s at 742 S. Broadway (griffshamburgers.com) is closing at month’s end. Founded by H.J. Griff in 1960, the restaurant is an institution, featuring classic American menu items like burgers, fries and milkshakes. The building and menu evoke nostalgic feelings with their 50s-style logo and architecture. Seems a bit like the end of an era.

Bonnie Brae

Ink! Coffee (inkcoffee.com), 709 S. University in Bonnie Brae, has expanded into the former Small Planet Bikes space. Originally intended as a collaborative arrangement, the bike shop has transitioned from the property leaving Ink! as the exclusive tenant.

Cherry Creek

The Starbuck’s (starbucks.com) shop at Third Avenue and Clayton is relocating to 250 Columbine sometime around November. This relocation leaves a coveted corner space available in the shopping district.

Neiman Marcus Denver (neimanmarcus.com/stores/denver%20/co/denver) and the Cherry Creek Shopping Center (shopcherrycreek.com) turn 25 on August 17. Neiman Marcus is the only original anchor still standing; all of the others have left or changed their names.

Children’s boutique Nest (nestchildrensboutique.com) is relocating to 2940 E. Sixth Ave. and doubling in size.

Glendale

A few months ago we reported on the $175 million Glendale 180 (glendale180.com) redevelopment project. Since that time an eminent domain controversy has heated up with Authentic Persian & Oriental Rugs (aporugs.com), 550 S. Colorado Blvd., a business owned by the Kholghy family for 28 years. Merriam-Webster defines “eminent domain” as “a right of a government to take private property for public use by virtue of the superior dominion of the sovereign power over all lands within its jurisdiction.” Property owners must be allowed due process and paid fair value for property seized via eminent domain. Glendale city leaders and developers involved with the project are seeking to take the Kholghy family’s eight-acre parcel including the business itself.

Platt Park

Platt Park North a new development at Mississippi and South Broadway (plattparknorth.com) is a 60-unit townhome real estate development, featuring two- and three-bedroom rental homes between 1,000 and 1,600 square feet and is 65% leased.

Session Kitchen, 1518 S. Pearl St. closed its doors on July 11 stunning many regulars and fans of the hip small plates and mixology scene. Rumor has it the space will have its next incarnation as yet another restaurant.

South Broadway

For 116 years, Onofrio Piano has become part of fourth generation Denver Classic Pianos (denver.classicpianos.net). A new recital hall is part of the renovated facility. See our Arts & Events section for upcoming shows.

University Hills

Schlessman YMCA (denverymca.org/schlessman-family-ymca) is opening its highly anticipated new addition in August. The new space will add 15,000 more square feet of new workout space to the facility. Once the first phase is completed and opened, the original facility is set to begin renovations.

Sharon Trowbridge, former owner of Garnet Gecko has opened a new boutique Tulip, 2312 S. Colorado Blvd., (tulipgal.com) offering jewelry, accessories and gifts.

Colorado Center (coloradocenter-denver.com) at the corner of South Colorado Blvd. and Buchtel Blvd. is adding a third tower with mixed office, residential and retail space.

West Wash Park

Founded by sensei Marc Hanson and opened under the original name of Kusa Dojo, Wash Park Martial Arts, 1073 S. Pearl St. (WashParkMartialArts.com), is celebrating twenty years in business. Martial arts training is offered children and adults in Wash Park and the surrounding area. Ninpo Tai Jutsu, or the True Art of the Ninja, is not about fighting or sparring; instead, it is an art of self-defense. Weekly women's self-defense classes are offered every Sunday afternoon and taught by sensei Marc's two top female black belt instructors.

The latest Natural Grocers (naturalgrocers.com) is being constructed at South Broadway and Dakota. This new store is projected to be 15,000 square feet plus a parking lot. At the forefront of the natural food movement, Natural Grocers celebrates its 60th anniversary on August 17.

Around Town

The ongoing divestiture of Breckenridge-Wynkoop LLC real estate assets has resulted in two transitions within our distribution map in addition to the closure of Session Kitchen. The buildings housing Cherry Cricket in Cherry Creek and Breckenridge Brewery on Kalamath are changing ownership. A new brewery is taking over the old Breckenridge space, and locals are hopeful the sale of Cherry Cricket’s building will result in few changes for that neighborhood institution.