Jeff Hurlburt has heard it a thousand times. Someone walks into Clancy’s Irish Pub, orders a beer, surveys their surroundings, and says something like: “Man, I’d love to own a place like this.” There’s a certain romanticism to the idea of owning a restaurant. You may picture yourself welcoming regulars by name, sharing wisecracks with
A partnership between the City of Wheat Ridge and an Indigenous food project has dissolved after two growing seasons, with both parties sharing conflicting accounts of what went wrong at Happiness Community Gardens. Narissa Ribera, founder of Ch’il Indigenous Foods and a member of the Navajo Nation, says the City of Wheat Ridge failed to
After years of watching streets collapse and emergency repairs drain city funds, Wheat Ridge City Council has taken the first step toward creating a stormwater utility that would charge property owners monthly fees to maintain and upgrade the city’s drainage infrastructure. During an October 13 city council meeting, council members voted to begin implementing a
After months of uncertainty following its closure in May, Wheat Ridge Poultry & Meats will soon reopen under new ownership, preserving a legacy dating back to 1942. Jeff Prah, a veteran of Denver’s meat industry, has taken over the 5650 W. 29th Avenue shop’s lease and plans to open it again in mid-October. The new
Gary Bryan has always done business the same way: no gimmicks, no upselling, no sugarcoating, just straightforward answers and hard work. On July 17, his shop, Wheat Ridge Auto Service, marked 45 years of keeping cars running in the Wheat Ridge community. There’s no website, no online scheduling, and Gary doesn’t advertise. “I guess it
When Herb Edwards opened Edwards Meats as a small counter behind a friend’s fruit stand in 1962, Wheat Ridge looked almost nothing like it does today. Sixty-three years later, Herb’s grandson, Darin, runs the same family business, one of the few shops of its kind that has stood the test of time. During a 1966
Wheat Ridge Poultry & Meats, a local institution since 1942, has been ordered to close its doors indefinitely due to a storm of financial issues and personal misfortune. The shop’s future now hinges on the owner’s payment of years of owed taxes back to the city. For many locals, the butcher shop at 5650 W.
Just weeks after Wheat Ridge City Council unanimously approved rezoning the 100-acre Lutheran Legacy Campus, a citizen-led petition looks to overturn the decision and force a re-vote, that could lead to a special election later this year. The council’s April 28 vote established a new zone district known as Mixed Use–Lutheran Legacy Campus, with a
After years of planning, delays, and community input, Wheat Ridge is just months away from unveiling a new public space designed to bring the community together. The Green at 38th, located on 38th Avenue near Upham Street, is on track for August 2025 completion, with a grand opening planned for Saturday, September 6. “The team
Twenty years ago, Wheat Ridge was at a crossroads – it faced declining household sizes, deteriorating homes, and a dwindling sense of community. In response, the city launched Wheat Ridge 2020, a nonprofit meant to transform Wheat Ridge into a lively, sustainable, and connected community. That nonprofit is now called Localworks, and it is celebrating
With summer road trips coming up, making sure your car is in top shape can make all the difference between smooth travels and roadside assistance. To get the best advice on summer car maintenance, we spoke with Gary Bryan, owner of Wheat Ridge Auto Services, who has been keeping local vehicles running for over 45
The distance between having a home and having no home is shorter than many people think. In Jefferson County, the path to homelessness often starts with a missed rent payment, a family conflict, or a job loss – common situations that, without the right support, can have a snowball effect. “Life can be hard, even
What began as a high school dream for Wheat Ridge local Diane Allison has evolved into a bustling vintage clothing shop on 38th Avenue. Anteak Booteek isn’t just a vintage clothing store – it’s a place where history hangs on every rack. Allison’s passion for transforming clothing goes back to her junior high days at
It’s the things you don’t see that make the Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival so special. Behind the scenes is a world of meticulous planning and coordination that most visitors will never notice – and that’s by design. “I’m talking to the police at two o’clock in the morning before each day of the festival, saying,
“It’s all about people and positivity.” This mantra guided Robb Gneiser through 14 years as principal at Windy Peak Outdoor Lab, an outdoor education program for middle school students in Jefferson County. Founded in 1975 and located on 205 acres in Bailey, Colorado, Windy Peak provided an immersive educational experience to an estimated 60,000 students
In a move to address transportation challenges faced by families around Lumberg and Edgewater Elementary Schools, the City of Edgewater has initiated a community-based transportation planning program. The Edgewater School Transportation Plan is currently in the public input phase, with the project’s website acting as a hub for information and engagement. Organizers hope to accommodate
The Wheat Ridge arts community is growing rapidly, and this growth can largely be credited to its interconnectivity and diversity. “This is really just a group of artists that support one another,” said Sandra Davis, a local Wheat Ridge artist, member of the Wheat Ridge Art League, and board member of the Wheat Ridge Cultural
Altitunes, a Wheat Ridge-based music school, is revolutionizing the landscape of local music education with its comprehensive, science-based approach. Susie Frey and Amy Erhard, co-owners of the school, seek to combine musical education with holistic personal development. This multi-dimensional approach goes beyond the traditional scope of scales and musical notes to foster important life skills.
Despite the staffing challenges faced by police departments across the country, local departments have managed to weather the storm more effectively than many of their counterparts. The Wheat Ridge Police Department has experienced staffing fluctuations due to ongoing training programs and new hires. According to an interview with Joanna Small, the department’s public information officer,
The City of Wheat Ridge is grappling with the growing challenge of affordable housing, a problem plaguing many communities across the state. In response, the city successfully secured a grant from the State of Colorado in late 2021 to develop an Affordable Housing Strategy, the first of its kind in Wheat Ridge. The Wheat Ridge
