But by 2019, he was ready to retire and in talks with a housing developer when "a Goody Two Shoes showed up," he told Westword last year, referring to a neighborhood petition to get historic designation for the building, which would have prevented its destruction — and also greatly reduced the amount Messina could get for the property.
Instead, in a win-win effort, Historic Denver engineered a purchase of Messina's property by history-friendly developer GBX Group, which not only secured protective landmark designation for the building, but transformed the former diner into a swanky spot inspired by 1920s Palm Springs, complete with a sprawling outdoor space that was our 2023 Best of Denver editor's pick for Best Restaurant Patio.
![](https://media1.westword.com/den/imager/u/blog/18307220/20221013_172559.jpg?cb=1700500160)
Tom Messina celebrating the opening of Tom's Starlight with a ribbon cutting on October 13, 2022.
Molly Martin
Now a handwritten sign on the front door says "Closed 4 Good." Messina confirmed the news, saying that he's ready to get back to retirement. "It's too good of a spot," he says. "Someone will come in and do good by it."