Fort Collins restaurants surviving
Despite the recent closing of Linden’s Brewing Co., a Fort
Collins restaurant and brewery, many businesses across the city are
reporting satisfactory profits and an optimistic future in a city
that ranks near the highest of restaurants per capita.
Linden’s suddenly closed last Tuesday when tax officials from
the treasury office of Larimer County took over the property when
owners failed to pay property tax. The brewery was known for its
live jazz and blues concerts and unique beers, located in the heart
of Old Town.
“That’s the beauty of free enterprise,” said President of Fort
Collins’ Chamber of Commerce David May, who explained that some
companies just make it and others do not.
May could not confirm whether Fort Collins was the city with the
highest rate of restaurants per capita, but said the city was near
the top among cities in the United States.
Students are faced with the decision to eat out at fast food
chains, restaurant chains or eateries unique to Fort Collins. Often
price and loyalty play into who eats where, and in the end this
determines how long a business may stay afloat, especially those
which are unique only to Fort Collins.
Jake Byler, an English major, said he has a couple of
restaurants in town he remains loyal to when going out to eat, but
most of the time eats fast food like Subway or Taco Bell when he is
strapped for cash.
“Austin’s and Coopersmith are my favorite restaurants to eat at
when I’m in the mood for something more decent,” Byler said.
General Manager Jeff Melka of Braddy’s Downtown Restaurant, 160
W. Oak St., said his restaurant is doing fine. Melka said the
restaurant would eventually like to move into a larger space and
offer additional room for more banquets and office functions.
“Generally, our sales figures are rising,” Melka said.
Other restaurants like Austin’s American Grill, 100 W. Mountain
Ave., and Coopersmith Brewing Co., 5 Old Town Square, have publicly
reported that profits are on the rise.
Boston’s The Gourmet Pizza and many other restaurant chains are
springing up along the Harmony Road Corridor off Interstate 25,
despite the fact some area restaurants are closing or
struggling.
“Fort Collins seems to have a very vibrant restaurant sector,”
May said.
Lorraine Archer, an associate at Canino’s Italian Restaurant,
613 S. College Ave., said she has more wait staff scheduled than
she can remember.
“We’re doing quite well,” Archer said. “We’re making a
living.”
May said the restaurant industry is “very competitive” and said
businesses thrive in Fort Collins because of factors including the
city being a college town with a great supply of workers, a strong
customer base and a substantial regional market.
“Over thirty percent of retail sales come from people outside of
Fort Collins,” May said.
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