City quietly sought $8.45M pedestrian bridge while GJ Auto Sales challenged
Brandon Leuallen
The Business Times
Why was GJ Auto Sales selected as the site for the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Downtown Grand Junction Mobility Hub when other nearby options existed, including city and county-owned land?
Neither CDOT nor the City of Grand Junction has answered that question, despite multiple requests by The Business Times.
However, city records, planning documents, and emails reveal a longer story, one involving years of redevelopment planning, conceptual drawings, and a vision for linking downtown to Dos Rios via a pedestrian bridge and the 2nd Street Promenade.
City Maps and Early Planning
City maps appearing to date from before 2021 show the GJ Auto Sales property — the future site of the mobility hub — being converted into parking rather than a mobility hub. See story on Page 4
Valley Plaza reinvigorated
Play It Again Sports co-owner Brandy Miller stands in front of a row of weightlifting equipment on the left and exercise bikes on the right in the commercial space it expanded into at Valley Plaza. The suite was next door to the one Play It Again Sports had occupied since mid-April 2021, and it became available last year after previous tenant Scotland Yard Cigar & Spirits closed.
Valley Plaza gets facelift, fills vacancies
&N Investors Colorado LP didn’t have to refresh the facade of Valley Plaza Shopping Center, 2454 U.S. Highway 6&50.
Yet earlier this year the owner of Valley Plaza decided to invest in such a project to keep the shopping center, which was built in 1982, vibrant, welcoming and relevant. Not just for customers, but tenants as well.
David Foltz, one of the members of the Foltz family that has owned Valley Plaza for about 35 years, lives in New Jersey, but he said his family loves Grand Junction and wants to contribute in more ways to the community.
That includes starting a scholarship at Colorado Mesa University for School District 51 students and becoming a sponsor of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership.
And it includes the refreshing of Valley Plaza’s exterior and premises, where 23 businesses operate.
“We’re gonna spend more than $1 million sort of reskinning Valley Plaza,” David Foltz said. “We replaced all the exterior, we’re gonna do all the sidewalks and really kind of refresh something that was built back in (1982). And again we think that’s gonna help drive customers to the tenants and create a more positive experience.”
Foltz said K&N Investors used local people to the greatest extent possible to do the renovation work.
He also noted most of the tenants, even the ones that are franchises, “are really local. I’d say at least 80 percent
of the tenants are local.”
Foltz said K&N Investors obviously wants to make money, and the recent investment in the shopping center is meant to ultimately reward K&N Investors. But it’s also about taking care of the commercial tenants, because that’s good for business.
“I think we at one point were just too focused on what stuff costs and not paying enough attention to really what it looks like,” Foltz said. “And so I think I’ve kind of woken up to the pride of ownership, and I really want something that my family is proud of, and I think updating it to more current stuff, taking away some stucco and adding this nice steel and stone, I think it’s gonna make a customer feel better about the experience of coming to Valley Plaza.”
Foltz said the building is “like brand new to the extent we can make it brand new,” and he thinks that will drive traffic to the shopping center.
“I think it will reinforce the buying decision that ‘I came to the right place, because I know I feel good about where I am and what it looks like,’” Foltz said of the customers.
He added K&N Investors wants to do a great job for its existing tenants and send a message to those who may one day reside at Valley Plaza.
“As stores open up, which they’re bound to do, I
hope local businesses are kind of paying attention,” he said. “We would like them to want to be tenants at Valley Plaza and know that we really care. … we’re really paying attention.”
Along those lines, Valley Plaza has no empty commercial spaces as three new tenants and an existing one filled the vacancies that existed earlier in the year. The newcomers are Prime IV, Crush Salon & Day Spa and REMAX Rise Up. Meanwhile, Play It Again Sports took over the unit next to it, which previously was occupied by Scotland Yard Cigar & Spirits.
Drawing in customers is important as Foltz said Valley Plaza as a local shopping destination can be and do what online retailers can’t.
“We want local businesses where people have to show up, and then maybe they’ll see another store, and there’ll be synergy,” he said. “You know, we joke about, ‘Dad can come buy a gun, and Mom can can get waxed,’ but I do think if they’re there already in Valley Plaza, they’ll go look in a Runway (Fashion Exchange) and see if I can pick up some clothing. Or, if I have kids in sports, there’s a place there for them, too.
“We hope for some synergies, and we really want local businesses where, when you come in as a customer, you know who’s running the store.”
See VALLEY PLAZA on Page 6
STORY AND PHOTOS BY TIM HARTY
City quietly sought $8.45 million pedestrian bridge while GJ Auto Sales fought acquisition
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Conceptual drawings from a Request for Proposal (RFP-5303-23-DD) from 2023 depict the GJ Auto Sales lot as a parking lot next to the proposed 2nd Street Promenade, a pedestrian-friendly corridor envisioned to connect Main Street to the train station and ultimately the Dos Rios riverfront 58 acre mixed-use development.
The early rendering of the property as a parking lot still included the Mesa Pawn and Loan building, which was demolished in August 2020 — nearly a year before GJ Auto Sales owners Mike and Amber Martinez learned, through a July 2021 Daily Sentinel article, that their property had been listed in a federal grant application for the mobility hub without any notice or input from them.
In 2021, the City of Grand Junction also updated its zoning code to prohibit new car dealerships in the downtown core, a change that effectively barred future businesses like GJ Auto Sales, starting in 2024, from making major improvements or opening in the same area.
Pedestrian Bridge and Redevelopment Vision
The 2nd Street Promenade was only one part of the city’s larger Vibrant Together redevelopment vision. Another key component was the pedestrian bridge planned to connect pedestrians and bikers downtown to Dos Rios — bridging the Union Pacific railyard and Riverside Parkway. First estimated at $3.5 million in 2019, the bridge has grown in cost to $8.45 million in the most recent grant application and was promoted in city documents as a way to “complete” the connection from Main Street to the riverfront.
In a 2019 Daily Sentinel article titled “Missing Link,” City Public Works Director Trent Prall also told the Sentinel, “With the development of Dos Rios, the development of Second Street and the depot area, this bridge hopefully will provide a safe pathway for bikes and pedestrians between downtown and the riverfront.”
Jen Taylor, who was cited in the article as planning to open the Baja-themed El Jet’s Cantina + Sky Outpost at Dos Rios, added, “It’s more about getting people to the river. That for me is the most important opportunity that we can acknowledge.”
Taylor added, “Fewer people in cars and encouraging bike and pedestrian (access), it clicks a lot of boxes right now. I think it speaks to the city being progressive and also intuitive with its community.”
Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Brandon Stam, expressing concern that CDOT’s future work would not be as pedestrian friendly for those crossing Ute and Pitkin, said, “I understand they’re trying to project for future growth, but I think it would be really
short-sighted not to think of this area how we envision it, and how there’s actual, real money going in there.”
As the city began plans for redesigning Second Street and marketing surrounding properties to developers, the pedestrian bridge became a central feature of its pitch for downtown reinvestment.
Other Locations Considered by the Work Group
When the Martinezes found out about the project and formal discussions began, the couple was told CDOT was considering other potential sites for the mobility hub.
In 2022 the work group presented their findings and listed six options ranging from A being their preferred location to F being their least preferred location.
The Mesa County-owned property on First and Main was preferred by CDOT’s working group in March of 2022 as site A.The property is located adjacent to the existing pedestrian bridge that already connects Main Street to the Riverside community and Dos Rios.
The reasons the property was listed as site A were stated on the diagram.
• 4.2 acres
• Flexible size
• Connection to pedestrian bridge
• Limited economic development
The Martinez property was listed in combination with other city-owned properties as option D and F.
Other properties included were the existing GVT transfer center (option C), then two city-owned properties that were later included in the 2023 RFP. One became the site where the homeless resource center was set up, directly to the east of GJ Auto Sales (Option B). Another was the former Mesa Pawn and Loan property combined with either the Martinez property (Option D) or combined with the resource center location (option E).
City documents show both of the cityowned parcels near GJ Auto Sales were listed in the 2023 redevelopment RFP. That solicitation includes conceptual drawings showing multi-story, mixed-use housing planned for the sites, indicating the city may have prioritized those parcels for future residential and commercial use, not transportation infrastructure.
The RFP was specifically listed for the old Mesa Pawn and Loan property combined with most of the Two Rivers overflow parking lot, just to the north of GJ Auto Sales.
Questions asked of the City of Grand Junction were referred to CDOT
When asked:
• What other properties owned by the city were considered?
See BRIDGE on Page 5
Timeline: Dos Rios Pedestrian Bridge Grant Attempts
2019
• Vibrant Together Plan launched by the Downtown Development Authority under Executive Director Brandon Stam. The plan identified the 2nd Street Promenade and Dos Rios Pedestrian Bridge as key downtown priorities.
• Bridge first estimated at $3.5 million; an initial grant application was submitted.
• Early conceptual drawings appears to show the GJ Auto Sales property as a parking lot, even before demolition of the adjacent Mesa Pawn and Loan building.
2020
• The Mesa Pawn and Loan building, which had been purchased by the City of Grand Junction in 2017, was demolished in August 2020 as part of long-range redevelopment planning in the area.
• The city’s first pedestrian-bridge grant application failed. In a later Daily Sentinel article, city officials suggested local pushback may have contributed to the denial.
2021
• In July 2021, GJ Auto Sales owners learned from a Daily Sentinel article that their property was included in a federal grant application without notice from CDOT or the city.
• City continues seeking funding for the promenade and mobility hub, combining them with pedestrian-bridge plans in planning discussions.
• On Dec. 20, 2021, the City of Grand Junction adopted a new zoning code; effective Jan. 21, 2024, it bans new car dealerships in the MU-3 downtown zone and implements walkable urban design standards.
2022
• On April 6, 2022, Grand Junction City Council passed a resolution indicating CDOT’s working group preferred the Mesa County parcel at 105 W. Main St. for the mobility hub, citing single ownership and connectivity to an existing pedestrian bridge.
• On March 17, 2022, Transportation Director Trent Prall sent an email stressing his disappointment that the workgroup preferred the Counties property and explained how the Martinez property on 2nd street in combination with ⅓ of a city owned property did not rank higher. In the email Prall highlighted the envisioned Dos Rios Pedestrian Bridge over the already existing pedestrian bridge close to the Counties property.
2023
• City of Grand Junction reapplied for RAISE grant funding for a combined mobility hub, 2nd Street Promenade, and pedestrian-bridge project.
• CDOT removed the pedestrian bridge from the proposal before final submission.
• City issued RFP-5303-23-DD, marketing nearby parcels for redevelopment. The RFP promotes the city’s vision with conceptual drawings showing multistory housing and walkable infrastructure around the mobility hub site — including city-owned properties near GJ Auto Sales.
• Zoning update becomes a key part of how future development is marketed, in alignment with the Vibrant Together plan.
2024
On January 25, 2024, CDOT issued a Notice of Intent to Acquire the GJ Auto Sales property, initiating negotiations under threat of eminent domain.
• The city formally applied for the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) in June 2024 to fund the pedestrian bridge. City Council passed the supporting resolution on the June 5 consent agenda.
• The project is listed in the 10-year Capital Improvement Plan with a revised cost estimate of $8.45 million.
• In January 2025, the United States Department of Transportation did not list the Downtown to Dos Rios bridge project among approved ATIIP grant recipients.
Continued
• Why owned locations?
• What resource The city
• The project.
CDOT the use and
• The would be (rob.beck@state.co.us) CDOT public marsh@state.co.us).
• The contributed the property There was with the filed.
• The Ave. — only the alley mobility interstate Grand lobbied Junction A recently 17, 2022 groups preferred County property Grand Junction Trent Prall consulting Project Manager Business Chris, Thank City Principal I respectively City’s comments. Mesa I greatly offer for considered There are parking and however including:
Pedestrian of 1st Street to Main Street pretty daunting expand with Depot somewhat corner and not be as that is planned Activation. is activation Alternative activity after on weekends facilities vendors activated.
Pedestrian existing pedestrian does connect
Bridge
Continued from Page 4
• Why did the city not offer other cityowned locations?
• What is the city planning for the resource center site if not the mobility hub?
The city responded:
• The Mobility Hub is a CDOT-led project. CDOT purchased the property for the use and benefit of the project.
• The best contacts for your questions would be Rob Beck, program manager (rob.beck@state.co.us) or Charles Marsh, CDOT public information officer (charles. marsh@state.co.us).
• The city, county and CDOT contributed financially, and the owner sold the property after extensive negotiations. There was discussion of eminent domain with the city council, but no action was filed.
• The city-owned property at 261 Ute Ave. — only a long linear strip adjacent to the alley — will be used for a portion of the mobility hub, specifically for regional and interstate buses.
Grand Junction specifically lobbied for CDOT to acquire Grand Junction Auto Sales property
A recently acquired email from March 17, 2022 shows in response to the working groups preferred location being the Mesa County property on First and Main streets, Grand Junction Transportation Director Trent Prall sent the following email to consulting firm HDR Inc. Senior Transit Project Manager Chris Proud, which The Business Times is printing unedited: Chris,
Thank you for forwarding the slides. City Principal Planner Dave Thornton and I respectively submit the following as the City’s comments.
Mesa County Site (Alternative A)
I greatly appreciate Mesa County’s offer for their 1st and Main property to be considered as the site of the Mobility Hub. There are many positives including ample parking and room for growth. City staff however does have a couple of concerns including:
Pedestrian friendliness. The 7-8 lanes of 1st Street that must be crossed to connect to Main Street and the Downtown core is a pretty daunting today and would remain or expand with I-70B Phase 6.
Depot Proximity. The Depot is somewhat removed from this site: around the corner and not visible. The experience may not be as positive as 2nd Street Promenade that is planned for that corridor.
Activation. One of the other goals is activation or energy of the space. Alternative A site would have limited activity after 5:00 during the week and on weekends due to the large government facilities in the area. Leaseable space for vendors will be imperative to help keep activated.
Pedestrian Bridge. While there is an existing pedestrian bridge to the west that does connect to the river, the river at that
location itself will not be a strong draw when compared to Dos Rios.
Congestion. Mobility Hub will add to congestion at W. Main and Spruce as well as 1st and Main.
Triangle Site/City Wells Fargo site (Alternative F)
Pedestrian friendliness. Bike and pedestrian crossings of I-70B would be only three lanes at a time separated by the block in between Ute and Pitkin.
Depot Proximity. Wayfinding between the depot and the mobility hub is as simple as someone pointing to it.
Activation. This site will eventually be a very active space with close proximity to the soon to redevelop Depot/Amtrak Station and the primary walking/biking route between the Riverfront at Dos Rios and Main Street once the bridge is constructed. That activation would perpetuate through the evenings and weekends.
Pedestrian Bridge. While not constructed yet, will help connect Main Street to the Riverfront at Dos Rios and drive positive bike/ped traffic along the corridor.
Economic Development. The triangle piece is best positioned for government investment. Private investment will find access into the site challenging. There are also more opportunities in the immediate area than the 1st and Main.
We were somewhat disappointed yesterday that some of the consideration of complexity of land ownership and assembly was a factor. We pressed the “easy button” when GVT went in at its current site in the late 1990’s as the City had already had acquired and cleaned up the block and while GVT has made it work, the discussion at the time was that it was not ideal. The Mobility Hub needs to be in the best long term location for the community.
Please also note that the City had originally offered only 1/3 of the Wells Fargo block for the Mobility Hub. Alternative F contemplates the entire block. The City looks forward to the opportunity to review potential layouts and need for the whole block prior to committing the whole block. Thank you,
Trent Prall, PE
Public Works Director City of Grand Junction
Between this email and the official intent to acquire, a resolution showed the city council was notified the workgroup preferred Mesa County’s property.
On July 6, 2023, three months before the City Council voted on Oct. 18, 2023, to join CDOT in its intent to acquire the Martinez property, the city released the (RFP) soliciting development on the northerly adjacent cityowned parcel that combines the old Mesa Pawn and Loan site and most of the overflow parking going up to the convention center. See BRIDGE on Page 8
Trent Prall
Valley Plaza
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Prime IV comes to Grand Junction
Owners Scott McCoy and John Fager owned a Prime IV franchise in metro Denver, but McCoy said they opened a Prime IV in Valley Plaza in February, then sold their Denver business and home to move to Grand Junction in April.
“We really like it out here, and so rather than going back and forth and killing ourselves on I-70, literally, we decided just to divest everything in Denver and move here,” McCoy said. “The commitment is here, absolutely.”
McCoy described Prime IV as an “IV therapy spa brand” based in Colorado Springs, and it has four product lines.
“One is vitamin, mineral and amino acid drips, which is by far the largest product line,” he said. “We also do NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), which is a co-enzyme, and then we have hormone replacement therapy, and we have weight-loss peptides.”
McCoy described the average Prime IV client as 30 to 60 years old and a person with a fast-paced life, “Type A folks that don’t want to slow down and are finding maybe that their energy isn’t as good as it used to be. Maybe their sleep’s not as good as it once was. Infection hits them harder than they would like, or their skin isn’t what they want.
“So, if they’re patient through IV therapies, they can often find the energy levels come back, sleep can be improved, wrinkles can go away, and sickness involves just taking ibuprofen or Sudafed rather than being in bed for days.”
He said most clients are members, paying a monthly fee to come in for IV drips once or twice a month.
“It’s actually often a time question, not a money question, really, for them,” he said.
He said they have slightly more women than men for clients, and they “have a lot of couples that come in, or even families.”
McCoy said he and Fager have found Grand Junction to be “very friendly and inviting” and ready for what Prime IV provides.
“I think folks in general here are open-minded to the concept of not just prescription drugs and having that be the basis of your wellness routine, that there can be other alternatives, if you will, practices that you can explore,” he said. “I think they may be a little bit more open to that here than in Denver.”
McCoy added the real benefits of Prime IV’s services come from trying them for several months, and clients should keep that in mind.
“It takes a while with all this to build up in your system, to really get you to peak replenishment of nutrients,” he said. “So for this co-enzyme NAD, or even to get used to the weight-loss peptides, even to get your level right on the hormone (replacement), it’s a bit of a process. … For a lot of what we do, it does require a little bit of patience and a little bit of getting in a routine of coming in here once or twice a month.”
Crush Salon & Day Spa relocates
Crush Salon & Day Spa spent 10 years on Main Street in downtown Grand Junction, but owners Sammi Stucky and Jessica Beiriger hope to spend their next 10 years or more at Valley Plaza after opening there in May.
Stucky said they started looking for a new home for Crush because downtown was losing its appeal. Among the reasons they gave were traffic and parking being affected by changes to Fourth and Fifth streets downtown.
They found a unit available in Valley Plaza and pounced on it, then renovated the space in three weeks.
“Literally floor to ceiling, full remodel,” Stucky said.
The square footage, Stucky said, “is a little smaller, but I feel that the layout is better utilized than the old space. … Our old space is great, but it was very old. It’s a very old building. This is kind of just a better layout, more modernized, I feel.”
Now, they have greater visibility and accessibility on a busy highway, U.S. 6&50, and 24 1/2 Road, which has Mesa Mall across the street from Crush Salon & Day Spa.
“You have to stop and look at us, whichever way you’re going,” she said. “And our drive-through traffic and our walkthrough traffic has been like a hundred times better, being over here.”
She said the number of stores at Valley Plaza brings plenty of people and the potential for new customers. For example, next-door business Red Wing Shoes “gets a ton of people,” Stucky said, “so we get a lot of people that are like, ‘Oh, what’s this? What’s over here?’”
She added, “So many people come through here, obviously because there’s so many businesses, that I think we get a lot better exposure, just the drive-by traffic and stuff. Like, this place is crazy all the time. Oh, yeah, this is good.”
Another bonus stemming from the move to Valley Plaza is Crush kept all of its services and added some.
“We’re more than just a salon and a spa,” Stucky said. “We’re much more medical science and things, lasers, Botox. We’re outsourcing a lot of medical science and things, too... We do piercings now. We offer jewelry now. We’re just broadening our horizons. It’s not just a place to get your hair done anymore. Like, it’s a real hangout.”
BUSINESSES THAT OCCUPY THE VALLEY PLAZA
Scott McCoy and John Fager stand next to one of the massage chairs that are available for clients to relax in while getting an IV drip at Prime IV, which opened earlier this year at Valley Plaza. Photo by Tim Harty.
Crush Salon & Day Spa co-owners Jessica Beiriger, left, and Sammi Stucky stand in one of the rooms in their new location at Valley Plaza, where they moved in April and opened in May. Photo by Tim Harty.
Continued from Page 5
That RFP included conceptual drawings and marketing language designed to attract developers to the area around Two Rivers Convention Center, emphasizing proximity to the mobility hub, future pedestrian bridge and the 2nd Street Promenade.
The Martinez’s former property is shown on one photo as a mobility hub, while on the same photo the property where the HomewardBound of the Grand Valley Resource Center was located at the time showed multistory housing along with a strip of buses by the alleyway, clearly part of the corridor envisioned in those redevelopment plans.
No contract listed for the RFP could be found on the city’s website.
A City council resolution shows the Dos Rios bridge was removed from the 2023 application by CDOT; the grant did approve the 2nd Street Promenade. The city later applied for a grant for the Dos Rios bridge separately.
Ultimately Parcel F as described in Prall’s email was chosen and CDOT issued a formal Notice of Intent to Acquire for the GJ Auto Sales site on Jan. 25, 2024, initiating negotiations under threat of eminent domain, which were covered in two recent Business Times articles CDOT sells used-car dealer a lemon: GJ Auto Sales loses its downtown property to eminent domain for State of Colorado mobility hub, and GJ Auto Sales learned CDOT and City targeted their property without telling them.
City Council Passes Grant Application Approval on Consent Agenda With No Public Discussion
When the city formally applied for the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) in June 2024 to fund the pedestrian bridge, City Council passed the supporting resolution on the June 5 consent agenda, with no public discussion.
HOW THIS TIES BACK TO THE VIBRANT TOGETHER PLAN
The redevelopment of Second Street where GJ Auto Sales was located was directly influenced by the Downtown Development Authority’s Vibrant Together plan, adopted in 2019, which identified the 2nd Street Promenade and the most recently proposed $8.45 million Dos Rios pedestrian bridge as key priorities.
The plan laid out a vision for transforming downtown Grand Junction with walkable storefronts where buildings are oriented to the street with entrances facing a public sidewalk with no parking in the front of the building, event space and a pedestrian connection across the railroad and Riverside Parkway to the Dos Rios neighborhood.
This vision ultimately reappeared in later project proposals tied to CDOT’s mobility hub, where the GJ Auto Sales property was converted into a staging and parking area.
The Vibrant Together plan also influenced other citywide planning documents, including the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and the Comprehensive Plan, and it helped shape the 2021 adopted zoning code rewrite, which eliminated new car sales in the MU-3 (Downtown Mixed-Use) zone.
That update required walkable, street-facing buildings and pushed parking to the sides or rear, aligning with the plan’s goal of pedestrian-focused, mixed-use downtown redevelopment.
These zoning changes directly impacted businesses such as GJ Auto Sales and helped pave the way for land-use conversions in the area.
PREVIOUS BUSINESS TIMES ARTICLES REFERRING TO THIS TOPIC
JUNE 4 — CDOT sells used-car dealer a lemon: GJ Auto Sales loses its downtown property to eminent domain for State of Colorado mobility hub
JUNE 18 — GJ Auto Sales learned CDOT and City targeted their property without telling them View these articles on www.TheBusinessTimes.com.
Valley Plaza
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REMAX Rise Up fills final vacancy
The last vacancy in Valley Plaza was seized by REMAX Rise Up owner Mark Towner, whose fledgling real-estate agency is growing fast and has the potential to keep growing in its new space.
Towner and nine other real-estate agents left Keller Williams at the end of December, and Towner made it a point to say, “Keller Williams, they were a great place to work. They were a great stepping stone. It just wasn’t where we wanted to go.”
REMAX Rise Up launched without a permanent home, which meant a temporary site for a couple months, followed by agents working from their cars and homes.
“We were all kind of homeless for four or five months,” Towner said.
But “just about the time I gave up on finding the perfect spot,” he found what he was looking for at Valley Plaza, Suite 104, which had been occupied by Cedar Point Health Grand Junction Urgent Care Center until it moved to Clifton in July 2024.
“I was looking for a space that had a kind of a coffeeshop feel, so we weren’t limited by the space we had as far as the amount of agents we could bring on,” Towner said of what he envisioned for the agency. “Most of the big brokerages in town have these sprawling offices with lots of individual office space, and that in my opinion, from my experiences, that kind of creates that individual island that’s kind of lonely and not good for work ethic and morale.
“And so I wanted a space that was kind of a central place with offices surrounding this common area, a lot of glass, so people could see people working, you get to feel that there’s other people in this together with you.”
Towner said he was able to get into the space prior to K&N Investors deciding to remodel the entire shopping center’s exterior.
“Fortunately for me, I was able to get in here before instead of after, at least for value-wise,” he said. “I invested everything I made in the last couple of years that I’ve saved up with the team to build a space that we could be proud of and that looks state of the art. And a great work environment that is kind of cutting edge and different than what the rest of the city, at least, is used to with real estate.
“I love the high exposure on the street, great parking, good visibility. The average age of a person doing a transaction is 53 years old, and a lot of those people want to do face-to-face business, and it’s nice to have a place
that’s easy to recognize, easy to get to.”
With the buildout completed, REMAX Rise Up officially opened its offices at Valley Plaza on June 1, and the addition of more agents gives the agency 23 employees.
Towner said the office space will allow the ranks to swell to 40 to 50 agents.
There also was room to provide office space for Ambassador Mortgage Group, whose broker/owner is Robin Smith, Towner’s future mother-in-law.
Play It Again Sports expands footprint
When Scotland Yard Cigar & Spirits closed its business in 2024 and exited Valley Plaza, next-door neighbor Play It Again Sports didn’t have to think twice about leasing the newly available space.
The sports-equipment store had been in desperate need of more floor space to display items that were sitting
because we had so much product that was not on the floor that we had available. So, we were like, ‘Hey, we’ve got to get this out somehow,’ so that people could see all the options that we had instead of just a section of it.”
The timing of Scotland Yard’s departure was serendipitous for Play It Again Sports, but utilizing the new space took time, much more than Miller expected. Renovating the new area included creating a large opening to go from Play It Again’s existing suite to the additional space, and Play It Again had to tear out a lot of the work Scotland Yard had invested in the space.
“It took longer than we would have liked, to say the least,” Miller said. “It was supposed to take like two months.”
Instead, she said, it took about four to five months and cost the store having the additional space ready by Black Friday. But Play It Again Sports was able open the new retail space to catch part of the Christmas shopping season.
“We were still able to capitalize a little bit that way,” she said. The capitalizing continued into the new year and hasn’t stopped.
Miller said the customer count is up noticeably, as are revenues year over year each month in 2025.
“Month to month, it’s been anywhere between 16 to 23 percent, but it’s always up, so that’s great,” she said. “We’ve just been increasing all of our numbers. Our goal is always 12 percent, 12 to 13 percent, and we’re at 16 to 23, so that’s great.”
The additional space helped the most with displaying exercise equipment, such as various cardio machines and weight racks, items that require space and now have it.
“It was primarily for that,” Miller said, “but also to expand our other sports, because we had more to offer. We just didn’t have any way of showing it.”
The new area includes storage space, lessening the amount of equipment stored off site.
“We could take more of our stuff out of our warehouse and have it here for restocking purposes, so that I wasn’t constantly running to the warehouse,” Miller said.
While Play It Again Sports is known for selling used equipment, when there aren’t enough used products available, the store brings in new items, and Miller said the amount of new items has expanded.
In addition to products, Play It Again Sports is offering more services, such as skate sharpening and regripping
Miller added the store hired two more employees,
REMAX Rise Up owner Mark Towner stands in the middle of the central open area that is surrounded by the real-estate agency’s offices, a concept he said is important to the environment he wanted to create with his new business. Photo by Tim Harty.
Play It Again Sports co-owner Brandy Miller stands next to some of the store’s golf-bag push carts, and behind her is the opening that Play It Again Sports created to expand into the next-door suite last fall. Photo by Tim Harty
THIS IS COOL!
If we at The Business Times see something business-related that we think is cool, we just might take a photo of it and run it in our newspaper. Why? Just because it’s cool. And it’s our prerogative.
You’ll find this singing bowl at Crescent Moon Spiritual Goods, 537 Main St. in downtown Grand Junction.
Jeff Winters of Grand Junction takes in the vibrations while standing in the giant standing singing bowl at Crescent Moon Spiritual Goods on May 31.
On May 31, Ashlie Samson, who teaches at Monument View Montessori Charter School, was at Crescent Moon with a friend, and each took a turn standing in the giant singing bowl. Here, Samson reacts to the vibrations she’s feeling run through her body after store owner Tamara Degler struck the bowl several times with a mallet. Photos by Tim Harty.
United Way expands initiative to solve homelessness
United Way of Mesa County is expanding its United to Solve Homelessness initiative through a threepronged approach to address the growing needs of the unhoused population and the community at large.
The expansion includes the launch of a centralized homelessness hotline, a new mobile outreach van, and the release of the 2025 ALICE Report (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), according to a news release.
“United to Solve Homelessness is about aligning compassion with action,” said Faith Rodriguez, executive director of United Way of Mesa County. “We’re bringing together tools, data and direct outreach to make meaningful progress, not just manage homelessness, but truly solve it.”
Homelessness Hotline Now Live
A dedicated hotline is now available for individuals’ experiencing homelessness and local businesses seeking support. The hotline serves as a vital connection point for accessing resources, reporting concerns and coordinating services with community partners. It ensures timely responses and reduces barriers for those in crisis while offering businesses a constructive way to engage and assist.
The hotline number is 970-773-7230.
Mobile Outreach Van Serves Encampments
United Way of Mesa County has purchased and deployed a mobile outreach van to bring essential supplies and services directly to homeless encampments and isolated individuals. Outreach teams will distribute water, hygiene kits, food and first aid, while also offering case management and connections to housing and health services.
United Way of Mesa County is collaborating with the City of Grand Junction Neighbor 2 Neighbor team as
well as service providers from multiple organizations to ensure the outreach is effective and well-rounded.
“This outreach van is a gamechanger,” said Philip Masters, services and outreach coordinator. “It allows us to meet people where they are, literally. Building trust and delivering care in the field is essential for helping people move from crisis to stability.”
ALICE Report Details
Economic Struggles
The newly released ALICE Report provides critical insight into the number of Mesa County residents who are working yet still unable to afford basic needs such as housing, childcare, food, transportation and healthcare. These “working poor” households, classified as Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE), represent a growing population at risk of homelessness.
The ALICE Report moves beyond traditional poverty measures, such as the federal poverty level, offering countyby-county data that reveals the broader financial challenges many households experience. This data reflects Colorado’s current financial landscape and serves as a valuable tool for United Way organizations and their partners to identify gaps in support, address systemic barriers and work toward building a more resilient and equitable Mesa County.
For more information and to see the report for each ZIP code in Mesa County go to the United Way of Mesa County website at www.unitedwaymesacounty.org.
Get More Information
For more information, to access resources, or to support the initiative, please visit www.unitedwaymesacounty. org or call the new hotline at 970-7737230.
Is vacation rental the right strategy for your property?
Grand Junction, with its vibrant downtown, access to world-class mountain biking, hiking, river rafting and wine tasting, has become an attractive destination for thrill seekers and for folks looking to escape the crowds of the Front Range.
Amy Donegon
With this steady influx of travelers, many property owners are considering whether transforming their property into a vacation rental is a smart investment.
Grand Junction’s unique position as an ‘undiscovered’ gem of Colorado has excited investors looking to capitalize on short-term vacation rentals. Visitors increasingly seek accommodation that provides more space and privacy than traditional hotels. Short-term rentals can generate higher per-night revenue than long-term leases, especially during peak tourist seasons and major events.
But the key question for property owners remains: Is a vacation rental right for your property?
Factors to Consider When Hiring a Professional Management Company
Before diving into the short-term rental market, it’s important to assess whether your property and personal goals align with the demands of vacation-rental ownership.
Consider location: Properties near downtown, trailheads or the Colorado River are often more desirable to visitors.
Furthermore, vacation rentals need to be furnished, have linens and be stocked with essentials on a consistent basis.
Investors also need to consider the condition of their property in addition to having modern finishes, updated amenities and inviting outdoor spaces that positively impact guest satisfaction and booking rates.
You’ll also want to reflect on your availability and willingness to manage the day-today responsibilities. Managing a vacation rental requires attention to detail, responsiveness and a commitment to providing consistently high-quality guest experience. This includes managing bookings, coordinating cleanings, handling maintenance issues and ensuring compliance with state, county and city regulations.
The Role of Professional Management
For property owners who want to enjoy the financial benefits of vacation rentals without the operational stress, partnering with a professional management company, such
as Braycations, can be a game-changer.
Braycations offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to make short-term rental ownership seamless. From professional photography and tailored marketing strategies to dynamic pricing, guest screening, housekeeping coordination, and 24/7 guest support, they handle the complexities of hosting, so owners can focus on the rewards.
Braycations also ensures properties are compliant with state, county and local laws, licensed appropriately and operated in a way that contributes positively to the community. This is especially important in Grand Junction, where responsible hosting practices help preserve the welcoming character of our town.
Making the Decision
Deciding whether to convert your property into a vacation rental should be based on careful consideration of your goals, your property’s attributes and the level of involvement you’re prepared for. With professional guidance and a clear plan, vacation rentals can be a powerful tool to generate income, enhance property value and support Grand Junction’s growing tourism economy.
If you’re considering whether a vacation rental is the right strategy for you, Braycations offers resources and expertise to help you evaluate your options.
Visit www.braycations.com/getting-started to learn more about how to turn your property into a successful and stress-free vacation rental.
Amy Donegon is director of property management for Bray & Co. Real Estate, 1015 N. Seventh St. in Grand Junction.
It has for everything. the family hygiene and You setting. Decide family that For example, have categories works toward retreat to the Healthy followed of your body The reward Healthy Not dazzling
Healthy living leads to healthy rewards
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It has been said we are a society that loves to be rewarded. We want to be rewarded for everything. Whether it is credit-card rewards, fuel points or discounts, these positive reinforcements help motivate us to make purchasing decisions.
Paula Reece
Let’s talk about what rewards you could achieve through living a healthy lifestyle.
Decide what your wants, needs and goals look like. Everyone’s list will be different.
These rewards can both encourage and motivate you to participate in an activity. Some rewards are instantaneous, like washing your car, while others are long term, such as studying hard for years to earn a degree.
One way to view things you do is to look at the benefits and rewards first and then decide how you will achieve them. For example, you may want to participate in water sports. It is important then to learn to swim first.
Think about all the choices we make where we are unaware of the rewards we are receiving. They are a habit. Many of these habits were instilled in us at a very young age, creating awareness in the family where kids understand that living a healthy lifestyle through food, exercise, hygiene and safety is a choice.
You could benefit from putting some kind of reward system in your own family setting. Decide how this will work for your family. Make it a game. This teaches the family that there is a goal, there are rules, and there is accountability.
For example, your family could make a “reward” chart with each family member. You may have categories such as: exercise; chores; food; and school work. Each member of the family works toward a reward each week or each month. Maybe it’s praise for work well done, a family retreat to the park or getting ice cream.
Healthy living rewards are numerous. Exercise is one of the best examples of action followed by reward that anyone can do for themselves. By exercising, you are taking care of your body inside and out through strength, cardio and flexibility training.
The reward is not something that can be bought. It only comes to those who MAKE it happen.
Healthy living is more than just exercising. It’s taking care of you. All of you.
Not everyone loves going to the dentist, but everyone loves a great smile. A white dazzling smile is a reward of care. Eating a healthy diet, brushing and flossing your teeth
every day and visiting the dentist for routine cleanings and check-ups, all lead to healthy dental hygiene that will reward you for many years.
The outcomes of some activities are the reward, such as good grades, gardening or a clean house. What about when you lose your first five pounds, quit smoking or save money? All these things have rewards. It’s okay to tell yourself, “good job,” and reward yourself with something that is meaningful to you. Maybe that’s a new pair of jeans, a good book or a massage. None of the things we do or want, just happen. They are a reward of effort. Making choices that lead you closer to your goals will allow you to reap the benefits that living a healthy lifestyle provides. A healthy and fit body is an amazing reward, wouldn’t you agree?
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Paula and Dale Reece own Crossroads Fitness Centers in Grand Junction with a downtown location at 225 N. Fifth St. and north location at 2768 Compass Drive. For more information, call (970) 242-8746 or visit the website crossroadsfitness.com.
Dear Editor,
I read Craig Hall’s column, “ICE Riots should send a chill down every American’s spine.” With a headline parroting Fox and NewsMax, the tone was set. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
The temptation of equating mostly peaceful rallies and marches as civil unrest is always tempting and certainly easy — just televise the same burning car over and over. The viewers won’t notice, right? Fear mongering and feeding the rage is more expedient than thoughtful discussion, which is exactly why we are where we are.
Most people understand the U.S. economy is supported substantially by migrant labor, and they also know immigrant labor has been expanding for decades under both parties. Immigrants (many with work visas or green cards) make up about one-fifth of the nation’s workforce, performing respectable and essential work throughout the sectors of agriculture, healthcare, meatpacking, construction, hospitality and other industries — as President Trump recently acknowledged in a forehead-smacking moment of clarity.
These workers contribute billions in taxes, even paying into the Social Security fund. As our workforce has shrunk from Boomers retiring and the birth rate declining, our country needs professional, paraprofessional and common labor resources to sustain our quality of life, economic conditions and growth.
The U.S. immigration system makes new citizenship remarkably complex, slow and expensive. Case processing takes years.
Of note, Gallup polling shows that 70 percent of U.S. adults favor allowing immigrants who entered the country illegally the opportunity to become U.S. citizens if they meet certain requirements over a period of time. Support is even higher, 80 percent, for a similar policy for those brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
In 2024 we witnessed a rare exercise in bipartisan discipline when Congress attempted to update immigration rules. Unfortunately, as a private citizen with extraordinary influence, Donald Trump tanked the promising bill and threatened to target any Republican lawmaker who supported it. Why? Because his superpower is scaring and enraging people. He was running for re-election. He wanted to demonize immigrants as murderers and rapists and mentally ill. It worked. He was re-elected despite inciting a deadly riot (spine chilling, I daresay) at the United States Capitol and being convicted of multiple felonies.
Let’s be real. There is no perilous emergency. What we are witnessing is a very anxious city whose people are being targeted as political chattel. That is why it is so shocking to see armed Marines in the streets of a U.S. city. That is why it is surreal to see shapeshifting, masked ICE agents in quasispiderman costumes snatching children, teens, adults and elderly off the streets while they’re on their way to harvest strawberries, bus tables, enjoy a baseball game or celebrate a family birthday.
Furthermore, it is the height of hypocrisy to see mysterious, masked agents lurking around courthouses to abduct individuals who are keeping their court appointments for visa or green card renewals.
While Los Angeles did in fact experience isolated rioting and tagging in its epicenter, rallies and marches throughout L.A. and other cities, including Grand Junction, have demonstrated that many Americans want sane, sensible approaches to immigration and elected officials who will follow the law, not bend it to their will using conjured emergencies.
Mr. Trump loves to say, and I quote, “Radical leftists and scum (which includes me, I guess) are in favor of open borders and allowing criminals to roam free and terrorize our communities.” That is nonsense. Just once, it would be refreshing to hear him speak with authentic respect for all Americans who happen to have differing viewpoints, not just those who voted for him and his policies.
In the coming months, we are certain to see the continued escalation of arrests that have nothing whatsoever to do with crime or fentanyl (yeah, remember the premise for all of this?). With armored vehicles, masked mystery men and bored soldiers patrolling our streets – and the astronomical cost of capturing, imprisoning and sending immigrants to random destinations – I wonder: Will the border problem be solved? Or will our country simply be subjected to very expensive, divisive and un-American master plan to advance a few political careers?
I think we all know the answer.
– Jacque Dansby, Whitewater
For the record, both sides get mad at me. As it should be.
I know, another column about me and my feelings. But just what in the H-E double toothpicks did you expect? It’s my column, in my paper, and it’s gonna get printed, because I exert total power, control and the bucks that print The Business Times.
Truth is: I just like to write my opinions on stuff that interests me. The problem is: Most of what interests me is anti-government and its unrivaled lust for power, money and control. And when it comes to that, the left is so much more obvious at its lust. Especially when it is out of power.
It’s also problematic for most of those who write to me, because they put all their trust in leftist government to force their way of life onto others and become incapable of seeing they are doing it themselves. In my written-word world, I call that irony, because writing cognitive dissonance (truly the root cause) takes up too much space, is subject to misspelling, and I have a word count to stay within.
I wrote only two weeks ago about an emailer asking what facts supported my opinion the left is “breaking the law” when it comes to the “peaceful protests” all over the country. My response was, “Seriously?” I should have also pointed out the irony of not believing what one is seeing in support of my question.
There was also this ditty from another admirer (grammatical errors and attempts at literary license included for your reading pleasure) who pontificated the line, “your ramblings and nonsequitur reasonings will lead your readers to conclude that you have your head up your arse.”
Credit in using the King’s English to somehow validate your opinion on my cranial-rectal inverse, but wouldn’t it have been better to attempt an argument against one of those ramblings or nonsequiturs? No question from the rest of his screed, irony and humor was lost on the author.
The irony of irony being lost on the humorless left is so, what’s the word, ironic.
Yet it seems to be THE common thread in those who write me, including the “letter to the editor” you see opposite this column.
Now, I am not here to argue with the passion of folks who write to me. As a matter of fact, I encourage it. That’s why I write. To stir passions. I just wish they weren’t misguided, but rather, directed at the same folks I direct mine at: the government. Then again, it’s hard to direct attacks against the folks who are forcing your beliefs and way of life down the throats of those you disagree with.
I will begin with the obvious irony, along with the veiled insult and lack of humor the left is known for, in the first paragraph. Perhaps not calling the person you are writing an intellectually challenged, Fox News, parrot while writing a paragraph that could have been written by a talking-points-spouting talking head on MSNBC or CNN is not the best opener. But I saw the irony, and even some humor, from the get-go.
I must give the writer credit on two points, however. Although I deplore any sentence that begins with the words “most people,” the author did make two, valid points. The U.S. economy is supported substantially by migrant labor, and immigrant labor has expanded under every recent administration.
But you forgot the one word that makes all the difference: LEGAL. Yes, I used CAPS. And, yes, “….people are being targeted as political chattel.” Yet the author only sees Trump doing it. Ironically, it’s because Trump is trying to enforce the thousands of pages of immigration law passed, ironically, by Congress.
More irony to run by my Leftist readers. Trump was also following law passed by Congress when he bombed I-ran. But I digress.
The rest of the letter, in my opinion, is predictable anti-Trump talking points. Which, ironically is, apparently also on the left, more expedient than thoughtful discussion. A final irony, at least the author wrote something that could be published, unlike so many other emails I receive.
Just to give equal time to those on the Right who dissent on my opinion, allow me to give a shout out to our new mayor. Perhaps you saw where he called this newspaper “fake news” in a Facebook thread? Or maybe where he indicated one of our stories was “missing information” (read misinformation) on the city’s use of eminent domain in destroying a local business? He went as far in a private communication to accuse me of “turning” on the new council while comparing me to a local reporter known for using stories as opinionated, attack pieces.
No wonder you didn’t call for Jason Nguyen’s resignation. The irony of using his governing style is not lost here.
Mr. Mayor, you’ll meet few against the government fixing every problem while imposing its utopian vision on the people above me. Ironically, you know that. After all, I wasn’t, ironically, part of a 7-0 vote only to implement 95 percent of a project the recently elected council members literally ran for office on stopping and eliminating.
More ironic, writing my opinion about this may cost The Business Times access to city administration. Something the public shouldn’t find funny. But when it comes to money, power and control, all irony and humor are lost.
In Truth and freedom.
Craig Hall is owner and publisher of The Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com
Craig Hall
n HOPEWEST ACHIEVES DEFICIENCY-FREE LICENSING SURVEY FOR HOSPICE PROGRAM
HopeWest announced its hospice program achieved a deficiency-free result in its most recent Hospice Certification and Licensing Survey conducted by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The unannounced survey included a thorough review of operations, patient care and compliance standards, HopeWest said in a news release.
A team of CDPHE surveyors conducted the audit, including detailed reviews of patient charts, staff interviews and visits to patient homes and HopeWest’s Ferris Hospice Care Center.
The team of surveyors reported zero deficiencies and praised HopeWest for its professionalism, strong teamwork, exceptional volunteer program and patient-centered care.
“We are deeply grateful to our entire team for their expertise and continued commitment to providing exceptional care,” said Deneen Silva, president and CEO of HopeWest. “Thank you to every team member for making HopeWest a trusted presence in the lives of so many.”
n GRAND VALLEY POWER AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS, YOUTH-LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES
Grand Valley Power announced the recipients of its 2025 scholarship and youthleadership programs. Its selection committees chose nine students to receive college scholarships, three students to attend the 2025 Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp and Washington D.C. Youth Tour, one recipient of the CMU Tech Electric Lineworker Scholarship.
Grand Valley Power awarded a total of $22,000 in scholarships for the 2025-26 school year. Since 1996, Grand Valley Power has awarded more than $314,000 to students who are continuing their education. Scholarships are funded by unclaimed CashBack Credits.
The 2025 scholarship and youth program recipients are as follows:
• Homeschool student Garrett Draper received the Jack Broughton Colorado Mesa University Scholarship – $2,000 (renewable and $8,000 total over four years).
• Palisade High School graduate Siena Guzman-Newton received the Matt Williams STEM Scholarship – $1,500 (renewable to any accredited college or university and $6,000 total over four years).
• Plateau Valley High School graduate Payton Wilkerson received the CMU Tech Scholarship – $1,500 one-time award for a student attending CMU Tech.
• Rhett Ward, a 2023 Palisade High School graduate, received the CMU Tech Electric Lineworker Scholarship – $2,000 one-time award for enrollment in the CMU Tech Electric Lineworker program (open to Mesa County residents).
• Six students – Lucas Lopes (Palisade High School), Callie Mitchell (Fruita Monument High School), Lia Bunnell (Grand Junction High School), Karyssa Daugherty (Central High School), Lynessa Asplund (Palisade High School) and Jonathan Overbye (Fruita Monument High School) – received a Grand Valley Power Scholarship – a onetime $1,500 scholarship (per person) that is awarded to students who plan to attend an accredited institution of post-secondary education.
• Overbye also was selected to participate in the 2025 Washington D.C. Youth Tour, an all-expenses-paid trip that allows students to experience American history firsthand and meet our nation’s leaders.
• Hunter White (Plateau Valley High School) and Madison Shaver (Fruita Monument High School) are going to be seniors this fall and were chosen to be the 2025 Cooperative Youth Camp participants. They will participate in an all-expenses-paid trip to the Cooperative Leadership Camp in Clark, CO. Only 100 students are selected from Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming to attend.
Cathy Meskel of the Support Our Soldiers Foundation stands next to what will soon be a Veteran’s Monuments Park.
n SUPPORT OUR SOLDIERS FOUNDATION SECURES LOCATION TO HONOR VETERANS IN CEDAREDGE
An abandoned piece of land in Cedaredge is about to be transformed into a Veteran’s Monuments Park by the Support Our Soldiers Foundation.
The foundation, founded by Cathy Meskel, secured the property at 100 SE Buffalo Ave. as the permanent home for the park, where it will display 13 marble monuments honoring the service and sacrifice of American veterans, including the courageous women of World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The monuments had been at Pioneer Town in Cedaredge, but they will be moved to a space built just for them.
“This land represents more than just a place; it represents purpose,” Meskel said. “My veterans deserve this, and this will be a place of honor for them to come and reflect.”
To learn more about the Support Our Soldiers Foundation, the monuments or upcoming plans for the park, visit www.supportoursoldiersfoundation.org.
n RIVERSEDGE WEST GETS $19,998 GRANT FOR RIVER STEWARDSHIP, COMMUNITY OUTREACH
RiversEdge West received a $19,998 grant from the Colorado Watershed Assembly Healthy Rivers Fund to support its Western Slope River Stewardship program. This funding will help RiversEdge West build on years of successful community-driven river restoration in Mesa County while expanding efforts to include Montrose County.
“Our rivers are healthiest when we care for them together,” said Cara Kukuraitis, RiversEdge West’s director of development and communications. “This support from the Colorado Watershed Assembly makes it possible to strengthen our volunteer network, engage more students and support thriving river ecosystems along both the Colorado and Uncompahgre rivers.”
Funding will support various programs and initiatives aimed at riparian restoration, community engagement and environmental education through: river stewardship; community outreach and engagement; and youth education.
