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October 2, 2014 VOLU M E 1 3 | I SS UE 37
LoneTreeVoice.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
L.L. Bean coming to Park Meadows Company’s first Colorado store plans Nov. 21 grand opening By Jane Reuter
jreuter@colorado communitymedia.com L.L. Bean will open its first Colorado store, and its second west of the Mississippi River, next month at Park Meadows shopping center. The 13,000-square-foot, one-story store is under construction in the former site of Grand Lux Café, on the mall’s east side. The planned Nov. 21 grand opening — the Friday before Thanksgiving — is set just in time for Christmas shopping season. Founded in Maine in 1912, the outdoor equipment and apparel store has focused its stores on the northeast and mid-Atlantic region of the country. “Now we’re setting our eyes out west,” L.L. Bean spokesman Mac McKeever said. “Certain markets like yours have this terrific body of outdoor resources — rivers, lakes, streams and mountains — but also a
population that really enjoys the outdoors. Colorado just made terrific sense. It’s going to be a really great fit for the brand and the store.” Eddie Bauer has a long-standing presence at Park Meadows and REI is just across County Line Road, but L.L. Bean isn’t daunted by its competitors’ proximity. “We’re aware of the competition that’s in the area,” McKeever said. “It’s my belief a rising tide raises all ships. I think it’s a testament to the area these outdoor stores open up in that area.” Additionally, he said, “Opening a store in a market like Denver is going to give people the ability to distinguish the brand in three dimension.” L.L. Bean offers its Outdoor Discovery Schools that includes more than 100 courses, trips and tours on sports ranging from fly fishing to cycling, as well as private lessons and custom adventure, youth camps, free clinics and demonstrations. “It’s a point of differentiation for us,” Meadows continues on Page 20
The former site of the Grand Lux Cafe, on Park Meadows mall’s east side, soon will be home to LL Bean. It will be the company’s first store in Colorado. Photo by Jane Reuter
Hailstorm slams south metro area Reports of broken windows, roof damage By Christy Steadman and Jane Reuter Staff writers
Highlands Ranch resident Joe Wilson, whose family frequents the Lone Tree library, studies plans for the future building during a Sept. 23 open house at Lone Tree’s Seasons 52 restaurant. Photos by Jane Reuter
Patrons get peek at library designs Residents like larger size, themed spaces, other features By Jane Reuter
jreuter@colorado communitymedia.com Library patrons who got their first look at design plans for three future Douglas County libraries expressed a shared sense of enthusiasm. Douglas County Libraries held a happy hour-style Sept. 23 open house about its trio of projects at Lone Tree’s Seasons 52 restaurant. Library-goers sipped red wine and sampled flatbread as they studied color designs and graphics that were generated based on surveys specific to each of the three branches. The most common concern about proposals for the Castle Pines, Parker and Lone Tree libraries was the ability to provide both quiet and social areas under a single roof. But library users who voiced that worry said they’re cautiously optimistic the design will address it. “My husband and I had some concerns before we got here,” said Parker senior Dorothy Maginsky. “We thought it might be very childcentered, and forget the older people.
Castle Pines city council member Roger Addlesperger, left, talks with Castle Pines Library program liaison Cherie Ellingson about plans for the community’s new library during the same open house. They’ve reassured children will be catered to, but they’ll be on the main level.” The libraries all will open within about three months of one another, starting in late 2015. All will have two stories and similar designs that include family space, quiet study areas, flexible meeting rooms and expanded collections. Parker’s new Mainstreet library
will be nearly double its current size. Lone Tree’s new structure in RidgeGate will be about two and a half times larger than the existing Lone Tree Parkway building. Joe Wilson lives in eastern Highlands Ranch, but he and his family regularly use the closer Lone Tree library. Library continues on Page 10
Evidence of the previous afternoon’s hailstorm was everywhere the morning of Sept. 30: Piles of hail still stood in parks and shady corners of yards; leaves and debris clogged sewer drains; homeowners used shovels and hoses to clear sidewalks and driveways carpeted in prematurely fallen green leaves; and car dealerships declared hail sales. Golf-ball-sized hail was reported in Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Centennial and other parts of south metro Denver on Sept. 29. “About every car got it, used and new,” said Julie Lowinski at the Lone Tree Don Massey Cadillac dealership. “It’s just devastating.” Next door at Ed Bozarth Chevrolet, yellow letters written on the windshield dark gray SUV parked at the dealership’s entrance told the same story: “Hail Sale! Save thousands!” “We got hit very hard, every car,” said manager Keith Molkenthin. “It broke two windows in our building because it was so windy and coming down at a 45-degree angle.” About 30 burglar alarm calls can be attributed to the weather, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Ron Hanavan said. Additionally, there were some reports of roof damage and broken windows that are weather-related, the sergeant said. Phones at David Trudell’s State Farm Insurance office in Lone Tree were ringing steadily the morning of Sept. 30. “So far, mostly we’ve been getting a lot of car damage,” Trudell said. “A lot of things like broken-out back windows and windshields. You’ve got to have some pretty good-sized hail to break windshields.” He expected reports on residential property damage to come later. “It takes a while longer to assess the damage to homes,” Trudell said. Allstate Insurance agent Michelle Colaizzi said her office, which is located in Highlands Ranch, received close to 50 claims for damage on vehicles and homes within three hours. For it being a “short, very concentrated storm,” Hail continues on Page 20