Construction Project Forces Temporary Closure of Red Tops Rendezvous

One of our favorite spots for Detroit-style pizza in Denver has closed because of an ongoing city construction project that has essentially blocked access to the restaurant.

The Culinary Creative Group (which includes A5 Steakhouse, Mister Oso, Tap & Burger, Kumoya and more) debuted Red Tops Rendezvous at 2917 West 25th Avenue last July. But a construction project that "began last fall and is expected to continue through summer," according to a Culinary Creative announcement, "has progressively escalated each month with an undetermined end."

The main entrance to Red Tops is on West 25th, which is under construction; so is Eliot Street, which runs along the side of the restaurant.
“It’s an unfortunate situation that has been a learning experience for our organization and I truly hope the city takes a long look at this and has a learning moment as well," Culinary Creative CEO Juan Padró says in statement. "We will endure; however, most small businesses would have lost everything. The revenue losses have been staggering and we held on as long as we could. I do believe we need to work towards a better plan, as this seems to be happening all over the city.”

Nancy Kuhn, communications director for the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure, provided the following statement to Westword about the project:

Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) is making improvements on Federal Boulevard between West 23rd and West 27th Avenues, and on West 25th Avenue between Federal and Eliot streets that will create a safer environment for pedestrians crossing the stretch and accessing local businesses.

The project, funded by the voter-approved Elevate Denver Bond and the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Safer Main Streets Program is:

• Upgrading the pedestrian ramps on Federal Blvd at West 25th and West 26th Avenues.
• Adding concrete bulb-outs at multiple corners in the area to shorten pedestrian crossing distances and slow vehicle turns.
• Installing a HAWK signal on Federal Blvd at West 25th Avenue. Pedestrians and people on bikes can activate the HAWK signal to stop vehicles traveling on Federal to cross the street more easily and safely at West 25th Ave.
• Transforming West 25th Avenue from Federal Blvd to Eliot Street into a more pedestrian-friendly street with a narrowed and curved design to slow vehicle speeds (known as a chicane); installing green infrastructure on this block to provide water quality and natural plantings to beautify and cool the environment.
• Upgrading the stormwater infrastructure at W. 25th and W. 26th Avenues and on Eliot Street to improve drainage and reduce flood risks

Pedestrian access to all businesses has been maintained throughout the project. When complete, W. 25th Ave between Federal and Eliot Street will not be fully closed to cars, but designed for slow vehicle travel and a better environment for pedestrians and visitors enjoying the businesses along the stretch. There will still be parking — less parking than before on W. 25th Ave between Eliot and Federal, but more provided on W. 25th Ave between Eliot and Decatur streets via a new angle-parking configuration.

Before the end of the month, we’re looking to open W. 25th Ave from Federal Blvd to about the alleyway, as the team completes work from the alley to Eliot Street.

"The issue isn’t the work," Padró tells Westword. "The issue is how to support businesses when you’re disrupting them. We’ve been disrupted since October. And even though 25th is opening, that’s not enough to keep the business open because they are working on Eliot next. A neighborhood with 3,400 residents isn’t enough to sustain a business; you need people from outside to have access. There isn’t enough access. So the City really should not be requiring these businesses to pay taxes, for example. That would be a win for both sides."

He continues, "They should have some grant money available. There should be a program that’s supported by both public and private sectors that says to the banks they give these businesses interest only on their debt while the city makes these improvements. Things like that are what we need. We need solutions. There is no right or wrong party. There are good people in the City and in the private sector trying to improve the city. But the City needs to be better about working with small business. It’s an awful environment right now in Denver for a variety of reasons beyond construction. This was an opportunity to do something positive in a tough situation. And that didn’t happen."

In the announcement of the temporary closure, Culinary Creative says that it intends "to operate in the future in Jefferson Park, which we feel a tremendous amount of love for."