A tent encampment along 48th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard in Denver on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. (Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Sixty-nine Denver businesses are receiving funding aimed at mitigating the financial impact of homeless encampments near their property.
The receiving grants of either $7,500 or $15,000 in federal funds from the city were chosen from more than 300 applicants. The winners were named last week.
Here’s a spreadsheet of the selected businesses.
Businesses that had revenue of $100,000 or more in 2022 received the higher grant amount, while those making between $30,000 and $100,0000 received the $7,500. In total, $1.01 million in aid was awarded.
Mercury Cafe at 2199 California St. received a $15,000 grant from the city. It’s a huge boost for the business that has bled cash and revenue trying to coexist with a nearby encampment. At one point, owner Danny Newman said, the cafe was paying $7,000 a week for private security to protect patrons and the property.
“It’s huge for us, even if it’s minimal for a lot of other businesses,” he said.
The business owner said the funds will help “buffer” the cafe’s books and help push it towards profitability.
Newman purchased the cafe in Arapahoe Square from its original owner in June 2021 for $2 million. The business hasn’t broken even during his tenure, in large part because of the nearby encampment about a half-block away, he said.
“I’ve been a patron of the Mercury Cafe for decades and when we saw it was for sale back in 2021, I kind of knew no one else was crazy enough to take on something like this and continue operating it as it had been … In 2021, there were encampments. There was a homeless population around the building and the neighborhood. So it’s not like we didn’t know what we were getting into,” Newman said.
He said the relationship between the Mercury Cafe and the encampment was amicable at the time. The business did what it could to help the homeless nearby, like giving out leftover food after closing.
“But then, things started to change. We got more people coming in and using drugs in our bathrooms, causing havoc inside,” Newman said.
The lowest point came last winter. As the encampment became more entrenched, the level of aggression increased. It got so bad that longtime staff members began to quit due to the stress.
“Their mental health was waning with the constant barrage of just getting to work,” Newman said.
Patrons, too, began to leave.
“(The encampment) really started to affect our business. We used to have an absolutely gorgeous outdoor patio; we’re known for our famous brunches. Fewer and fewer people were coming,” Newman said.
About three months ago, relief came when the city cleared the encampment. Newman said that since then, he’s experienced a happier staff and a safer environment to work. He noted that Mayor Mike Johnston even visited the cafe and neighborhood last week to check in on how business was going.
“We are good people with good intentions and want to do our best to help the overall community … It would be great to get back on our feet and be able to give back to the community at large,” Newman said.
A tent encampment along 48th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard in Denver on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. (Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Sixty-nine Denver businesses are receiving funding aimed at mitigating the financial impact of homeless encampments near their property.
The receiving grants of either $7,500 or $15,000 in federal funds from the city were chosen from more than 300 applicants. The winners were named last week.
Here’s a spreadsheet of the selected businesses.
Businesses that had revenue of $100,000 or more in 2022 received the higher grant amount, while those making between $30,000 and $100,0000 received the $7,500. In total, $1.01 million in aid was awarded.
Mercury Cafe at 2199 California St. received a $15,000 grant from the city. It’s a huge boost for the business that has bled cash and revenue trying to coexist with a nearby encampment. At one point, owner Danny Newman said, the cafe was paying $7,000 a week for private security to protect patrons and the property.
“It’s huge for us, even if it’s minimal for a lot of other businesses,” he said.
The business owner said the funds will help “buffer” the cafe’s books and help push it towards profitability.
Newman purchased the cafe in Arapahoe Square from its original owner in June 2021 for $2 million. The business hasn’t broken even during his tenure, in large part because of the nearby encampment about a half-block away, he said.
“I’ve been a patron of the Mercury Cafe for decades and when we saw it was for sale back in 2021, I kind of knew no one else was crazy enough to take on something like this and continue operating it as it had been … In 2021, there were encampments. There was a homeless population around the building and the neighborhood. So it’s not like we didn’t know what we were getting into,” Newman said.
He said the relationship between the Mercury Cafe and the encampment was amicable at the time. The business did what it could to help the homeless nearby, like giving out leftover food after closing.
“But then, things started to change. We got more people coming in and using drugs in our bathrooms, causing havoc inside,” Newman said.
The lowest point came last winter. As the encampment became more entrenched, the level of aggression increased. It got so bad that longtime staff members began to quit due to the stress.
“Their mental health was waning with the constant barrage of just getting to work,” Newman said.
Patrons, too, began to leave.
“(The encampment) really started to affect our business. We used to have an absolutely gorgeous outdoor patio; we’re known for our famous brunches. Fewer and fewer people were coming,” Newman said.
About three months ago, relief came when the city cleared the encampment. Newman said that since then, he’s experienced a happier staff and a safer environment to work. He noted that Mayor Mike Johnston even visited the cafe and neighborhood last week to check in on how business was going.
“We are good people with good intentions and want to do our best to help the overall community … It would be great to get back on our feet and be able to give back to the community at large,” Newman said.
