Denon Moore, the Business Support Director for the Colfax Business Improvement District (CBID) says that the dreaded construction on Colfax, in the section stretching from The Colorado State Capitol well past The Tattered Cover, will be done this summer. Reports indicate that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buildout on the segment from Broadway to Colorado Boulevard will finish in late August or early September.
While the final stages are indeed exciting, Moore and her cohort haven’t been thinking about the end date. They’ve been focused on figuring out ways to keep Colfax commerce viable throughout the duration, even with the many impediments The City has thrown at the street’s shops and restaurants. There are 159 occupied storefronts in the CBID’s area alone.
Moore, a business owner herself, got involved with the CBID in May 2024, hoping to encourage more people to visit and patronize her own businesses and those of her neighbors. She and her husband currently run Savageu Coffee and Ice Cream, which opened in 2023 and has managed to stay afloat even with slowed traffic and parking restrictions. Her other business, The Urban Cookie, wasn’t so lucky. It shuttered in 2024, partially owing to the heavy impact the BRT has had at the intersection of Colfax and York.
But Moore’s love for the area is motivated by more than just economic concerns. “I think when we take the extra time to care for how our neighborhood looks and feels that it invites people to shop, eat and entertain on Colfax,” said Moore.
The CBID is a quasi-governmental organization that was incorporated in 1989, and uses funds from property tax assessed on commercial properties. “It was business and property owners coming together to say we need a bit more than your typical corridor. More than what The City could provide,” said Moore.
The CBID supplies business support, marketing and communications resources, and a variety of programs designed to keep the area clean and safe. These include issuing additional trash cans, erecting more lightposts for increased visibility and furnishing frequent bike racks. A paid clean team is active seven days a week emptying trash bins, sweeping, removing biohazards and biowaste, as well as power-washing and removing graffiti. The CBID recently partnered with The Denver Dream Center to kickstart the Dream Team, which connects unhoused individuals with meals, shelters and family and friends.
Another job of the CBID is placemaking. “A BID’s job is to identify their space,” said Moore. Each year, from around Valentine’s Day until late March, the organization runs the Colfax Heart Installation. The initiative invites individuals and businesses to purchase hearts to hang along the corridor. Participants offer custom messages, and while not limited to “BE MINE” or “U UP?”, the hearts do allow for a bit of nostalgic romance on a grander scale.
On top of the area’s day-to-day upkeep, the CBID is responsible for a range of events. “We do a lot of volunteer events. We do things that are family friendly, and resonate with Cap Hill residents,” said Moore. Current attractions include several volunteer cleanups, a neighborhood movie night, an art walk and a patio tour. While the details are still being put together, Moore has promised that the summer will be full of jamborees full of food trucks and parking lot entertainment.
“One of the greatest things that we strive for is just really building our community and meeting them where they’re at,” Moore continued. “I think there’s a place for everyone to belong on Colfax.”
More information on the Colfax Business Improvement District can be found on its website or Instagram, alongside a full list of events.
All photos by Evan Dale.
