City to take second run at historic Westminster restaurant

Residents in the Historic Westminster area remain hungry for a restaurant to locate in the area.

City sta conducted a survey of area residents on what they would like to see in the former Rodeo Supermarket located at 3915 W. 73rd Ave. Most, 84% responded with their choice as a restaurant. You may recall that from 2018-2021, the city worked with the Olde Westminster Pub and Tavern interests in an attempt to bring the building up to code and complete interior improvements for the pub/ tavern.

Unfortunately, the e ort became a casualty of the pandemic and we will never know if the two private investors would have been successful.

Now, city council has directed sta to pick up the pieces and seek interested parties to a Request for Quali cations (RFQ). If there are viable responses, then sta is to identify the deal points and bring a proposal to city council.

Like everything else, the key to the deal would be the money. As sta pointed out in their memorandum to city council, “signi cant upgrades to the building’s major systems will be needed to meet City building codes regardless of the ultimate use.” In dollars and cents, that means a cost range of an estimated $1.81 million to $2.85 million. Remember, we are talking about a building which was built in the 1950’s and was Westminster’s rst supermarket. After the city purchased the property, the building was not property maintained and water pipes froze with ultimate damage.

Yes, residents in the area are eager to see a restaurant in “their part of town” which would add vitality and activity to the 73rd Avenue original Westminster commercial area. Yes, it would generate city sales tax revenue. Yes, residents in the area expect the city government to do their best in making their dream come true.

Is

this historic building worth the rehabilitation cost?

Even before entertaining the desired use of having a restaurant occupying the property, it begs the basic policy question of how much in city tax dollars should be spent on the rehabilitation?

Yes, it is one of a limited number of historic buildings still in existence in Westminster. Yes, it was the rst supermarket in the community.