Like previous years, Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region saw their share of retail and restaurant openings and closings in 2024 -- whether they were locally owned stores and eateries or familiar regional and national chains.
Stores and restaurants have grown their presence in the Colorado Springs area because of a desire to expand to a fast-growing market where new jobs also are being added to the local economy, some commercial real estate experts have said.
At the same time, however, financial woes, bankruptcies and competition from online rivals and others are among the factors that have led some retailers and restaurants to shut their doors.
Arts & Entertainment Tougher times ahead? Recent Colorado Springs restaurant closures highlight ongoing industry challenges RICH LADEN and BREEANNA JENT The Gazette
Here's a partial roundup of some of the comings and goings that were part of the local restaurant and retail landscape this year, and a look ahead to a few new additions planned in 2025:
CLOSINGS
* American Freight. The Ohio-based furniture, appliance and mattress retailer planned by year's end to close its Colorado Springs store at 1680 Briargate Blvd. in the Chapel Hills Mall on the city's north side. The closing stemmed from the retailer's bankruptcy.
* Bell Brothers Brewing. Financial issues cited by ownership prompted the brewery, taproom and small kitchen at 114 N. Tejon St. in downtown Colorado Springs to close at the end of September after less than three years in business.
* Big Lots. The national discount retailer closed its three Colorado Springs stores at 5085 N. Academy Blvd., 1990 S. Academy Blvd. and 2975 New Center Point in late summer, months before the financially troubled chain's announcement Dec. 19 that it would go out of business and shutter all of its remaining stores.
* Brooklyn's on Boulder Street. The Prohibition-era themed bar, which opened in 2016, closed at 110 E. Boulder St. in early March. Its owners cited lingering impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic and industry challenges for the bar's closure.
* China Town Restaurant. The Asian-favorite restaurant at 326 S. Nevada Ave. in downtown Colorado Springs was slated to close at the end of December after more than a half-century in business; its owner pointed to a nearly doubling of monthly rent for the space, higher food costs and a difficulty in hiring workers.
* Conn's HomePlus. The Texas-based electronics and furniture retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July and closed its lone Colorado Springs store at 345 N. Academy Blvd., southeast of Academy and Platte Avenue.
* Cy's Drive In. One of only a handful of 1950s-era drive-ins remaining in Colorado Springs, and known for its hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, onion rings, shakes, malts and other classic drive-in food, Cy's closed in the fall at 1833 W. Uintah St. after losing its lease.
Business Beloved Christmas-themed shop set to close alongside two other stores in Old Colorado City Breeanna Jent [email protected]
* Drifter's Hamburgers. The longtime burger joint whose menu mirrored that of California-based In-N-Out Burger recently closed its location at 4455 Mark Dabling Blvd. in Colorado Springs, though its owner declined to comment on the reasons behind the shutdown. Murphy USA, the gas station and convenience store operator, has submitted plans to city government officials showing it intends to build a convenience store on the Drifter's site.
* Fern's Diner & Drinkery. The vegan diner and bar in the Ute Pass community of Cascade, west of Colorado Springs, closed in August. Its owners said its location didn't attract enough customers.
* Holly Leaf. The specialty Christmas-themed boutique at 2522 W. Colorado Ave. in Old Colorado City on Colorado Springs' west side will close at month's end. Its owner said sales began to decline in the years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and never recovered. The store also faced competition from online retailers.
* Hungry Howie's. The lone Colorado Springs location of the national pizza and sandwich chain, at 4272 N. Academy Blvd. on Colorado Springs' north side, closed in October. A franchisee who operated the location for six years said he was ready to retire, while the COVID-19 pandemic and rising costs of food, labor, building rent and insurance were difficult to overcome.
* José Muldoon's. A second location of the locally owned Tex-Mex restaurant favorite, near Powers Boulevard and South Carefree Circle on Colorado Springs' northeast side, closed in January after 13 years; Springs-based owner Concept Restaurants cited financial challenges for its closing. The original José Muldoon's, on Tejon Street and in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs, remains open and marked its 50th anniversary this year.
* Lemon Lodge Ski Bar. The entertainment venue with an indoor ski and snowboard simulator closed in May on Pikes Peak Avenue in downtown Colorado Springs after less than a year in business. Local owners cited financial problems for the shutdown.
Health UCHealth announces major $407M expansion to Memorial Hospital North Breeanna Jent [email protected]
* Marco's Pizza. The national pizza chain's location at 12 S. Tejon St. in downtown Colorado Springs, which was operated by an out-of-state franchise group, closed in February because of financial issues. Marco's continues to have four locations in the Springs, its website shows.
* Momma Pearl's Cajun Kitchen. The Cajun-style restaurant at 162 Tracker Drive in the Polaris Pointe mixed-use development, southwest of North Gate Boulevard and Voyager Parkway in northern Colorado Springs, closed in June. A social media post by its owner at the time cited rising food and labor costs, property taxes and a drop in sales.
* Mountain Shadows Restaurant. The diner at 2223 W. Colorado Ave. in Old Colorado City, on Colorado Springs' west side, closed in December after more than 30 years. The owners of the family run local favorite blamed, in part, the COVID-19 pandemic.
* Munchies. The husband-and-wife owners of the casual restaurant at 122 N. Tejon St. in downtown Colorado Springs announced they would close at the end of December. They cited higher operating costs for food, labor and rent, along with reduced foot traffic downtown, among other reasons for the closure.
* Red Lobster. The national seafood chain shuttered its longtime location at 4925 N. Academy Blvd. in northern Colorado Springs in August, a closure that stemmed from a bankruptcy filing a few months earlier. A second Red Lobster remains open in the First & Main Town Center shopping center on the city's east side.
* Royal Tavern. The longtime neighborhood bar at 924 Manitou Ave. in Manitou Springs closed unexpectedly and without explanation in September.
* The Perk Downtown Coffee & Tea House. After a 25-year run, the Perk shut its doors in May on Tejon Street in downtown Colorado Springs. A manager said sales were never as good as before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, while the owners of the business were looking to retire.
* The Well. The downtown Colorado Springs food hall that sought to help up-and-coming restaurateurs establish a foothold in the local food scene closed at 315 E. Pikes Peak Ave. in mid-June.
* 3E's Comedy Club. The entertainment venue closed at 1 S. Nevada Ave. in downtown Colorado Springs on Feb. 1; it had been open for nearly 3½ years. Its owner cited parking issues and a lack of downtown clientele for the club's closing.
* Walgreens. The suburban Chicago-based pharmacy giant closed a store in April at 4305 E. Platte Ave. on the city's east side. It also closed a second location in November at 3143 W. Colorado Ave. on the west side. Walgreens' parent company, citing financial issues, said in June it would close one fourth of its roughly 8,600 stores nationwide as it seeks to improve its bottom line.
* Wild Goose Meeting House. The coffee shop, café and gathering place at 401 N. Tejon St., which was co-owned by Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade when it opened in November 2013, closed in September, citing ongoing competition and inflation, among other factors.
Business Longtime Old Colorado City favorite, Mountain Shadows Restaurant, shutters its doors Breeanna Jent [email protected]
* Wing Zone Hot Chicken & Wings. The fast-casual chain opened in June at 3670 Austin Bluffs Parkway in the Market at Austin Bluffs shopping center, but closed just five months later in November. Its operators blamed poor sales, the location's lack of street visibility and increasing business costs.
OPENINGS
* Azteca Urbano Mexican Grill. The sit-down restaurant that features authentic Mexican dishes opened in June at 24 E. Kiowa St. in downtown Colorado Springs.
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* Blackjack Pizza & Salads. A franchisee for the pizza chain opened a new location in November at 4272 N. Academy Blvd. in the Marketplace at Austin Bluffs shopping center, taking over space previously occupied by Hungry Howie's Pizza.
* Buffalo Wild Wings GO. A takeout and delivery spinoff of the Buffalo Wild Wings sports bar and restaurant chain opened its first Pikes Peak region location in early 2024 at 6877 Mesa Ridge Parkway in the Markets at Mesa Ridge shopping center, southeast of Mesa Ridge Parkway and Fountain Mesa Road, in Fountain, south of Colorado Springs.
* Burlington. The New Jersey-based discount department store opened in late September at the Citadel Crossing shopping center, northeast of Academy Boulevard and Platte Avenue on Colorado Springs' east side, after relocating from The Citadel mall across the street.
* Crooked Cue. The upscale pool hall opened in the summer at 112 N. Tejon St. in downtown Colorado Springs, in a space formerly occupied by the Tattered Cover bookstore.
Business Downtown Colorado Springs diner announces closure at year's end Breeanna Jent [email protected]
* Daddy's Chicken Shack. Based in Littleton, the chain that specializes in crispy, pressure-cooked or grilled chicken breasts, funnel-cake style waffles and what's called Nashville hot chicken, opened in March in the Polaris Pointe mixed-used development, southwest of North Gate Boulevard and Voyager Parkway in northern Colorado Springs.
* Gaia Masala. The Boulder based, American fast food-Indian-Mediterranean fusion chain restaurant opened in the summer at 12 S. Tejon St., taking the space formerly occupied by Marco's Pizza.
* Illegal Pete's. The fast-casual, Denver-area chain known for its mission-style burritos, tacos and other Mexican fare, opened its first Colorado Springs location in April at 32 S. Tejon St. in downtown.
* In-N-Out Burger. The California-based burger chain, which expanded to Colorado in late 2020, opened its third Colorado Springs location at 495 W. Garden of the Gods Road, southwest of Interstate 25 and Garden of the Gods, in September.
* Jet's Pizza. Part of a chain that specializes in Detroit-style square pizza, Jet's opened in May at 5960 Stetson Hills Blvd. in the King Soopers-anchored Ridgeview Marketplace, northeast of Powers and Stetson Hills boulevards on Colorado Springs' northeast side.
* King Soopers. The Denver-based grocery, part of the Kroger chain in Ohio, opened one of its large format marketplace stores in January in the Falcon Marketplace shopping center, northwest of Woodmen and Meridian roads in unincorporated Falcon, just outside Colorado Springs.
* Louie Louie's Piano Bar. The dueling piano bar and entertainment venue opened in May at 522 S. Tejon St. in downtown Colorado Springs' New South End.
Business Barnes & Noble might expand to shopping center on Colorado Springs' east side By Rich Laden [email protected]
* Lulu's Downtown. The live music venue opened this year on the second floor of the building at 32 S. Tejon St. after relocating from Manitou Springs.
* Marigold & Go. The family owners of the Marigold Cafe & Bakery sit-down restaurant on Colorado Springs' northwest side opened a quick-serve concept in July at 140 E. Cheyenne Road in Creekwalk, the shopping center northwest of Cheyenne and Nevada Avenue, south of the Springs' downtown.
* Metal Supermarkets. Touted as a "convenience store for metal," Metal Supermarkets opened a Colorado Springs location at 1615 N. Academy Blvd. in the fall. The Canadian-based company has more than 125 stores across the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. The Springs location is the fourth in Colorado.
* Monica's Taco Shop. The nearly quarter-century-old, Colorado Springs-based Mexican restaurant chain opened its fourth location in September at 331 S. Nevada Ave. on the south edge of downtown Colorado Springs.
* Mountain Mike's Pizza. The family- and sports-oriented pizza chain based in California opened its first Springs location in November at 123 Spectrum Loop in the Polaris Pointe mixed-used development, southwest of North Gate Boulevard and Voyager Parkway on the city's far north side.
* Night Ramen. The gourmet ramen restaurant, which features a half-dozen ramen dishes and a dozen small plates, opened in September at 324 E. Pikes Peak Ave. on downtown's east edge. The restaurant was launched by husband-and-wife Jason Wallenta and Riley O'Brien and Jason's brother, Kris. The brothers also have launched downtown restaurants Dos Santos Tacos, White Pie Pizzeria and Dos Dos, while Jason and Riley separately launched Sushi Row, also downtown.
* Owambe African Restaurant & Lounge. The area's first Nigerian restaurant opened in the fall at 10 N. Sierra Madre St. in downtown Colorado Springs.
* Peak Pickleball. The indoor, 24-court complex opened in October at 1730 Briargate Blvd. in the Chapel Hills Mall in northern Colorado Springs, taking over a vacant Burlington department store space.
Business Developers taking crucial next steps for apartment high-rise planned in downtown Colorado Springs By Rich Laden [email protected]
* Torchy's Tacos. A fast-casual chain based in Austin, Texas, Torchy's opened its second Colorado Springs location in January at the First & Main Town Center retail complex on the city's east side.
* Sourdough & Co. A California-based sandwich chain, Sourdough opened its first Colorado Springs location -- and its first in the state -- in August at 3624 Centennial Blvd. on the city's northwest side.
* VASA Fitness. The Utah-based fitness chain opened in July in a former Kmart at 5885 Palmer Park Blvd., southeast of Palmer Park and Powers boulevards, on Colorado Springs' east side. The chain now has three Springs-area locations, two of them in former Kmart stores.
* Whataburger. A franchisee for the Texas-based burger chain opened the area's seventh Whataburger in April at 17889 Fat Tire Drive, southeast of Interstate 25 and Colorado 105, in Monument, north of Colorado Springs.
Business Chipotle eyes Colorado Springs' far north side for its 12th restaurant in the Pikes Peak region By Rich Laden [email protected]
* Wienerschnitzel. The self-described world's largest hot dog chain opened its second Pikes Peak region location in September at 8045 Fountain Mesa Road, near Cross Creek, in Fountain, south of Colorado Springs.
WHAT'S AHEAD IN 2025?
* King Soopers to expand its Pikes Peak region presence. The Denver-based grocery chain plans to open two of its large-format, marketplace stores in 2025. One will open early in the year southwest of Colorado 83 and North Gate Boulevard in the Flying Horse development on Colorado Springs' far north side.
The store will anchor the Flying Horse Marketplace shopping center being built at the site. A second store will open in the summer and anchor the Mesa Ridge Marketplace retail center that's under construction southeast of Mesa Ridge Parkway and Syracuse Street in Fountain, south of the Springs.
Both stores will be roughly twice the size of traditional King Soopers groceries and will sell apparel, shoes, dinnerware, small appliances and other items to go with full lines of groceries, meat and produce.
* QuikTrip looks to grow. The Tulsa, Okla.,-based convenience store chain, which opened its first Colorado Springs-area location in December 2023 in Monument, has torn down the old Polo Center shopping center northeast of Academy and Palmer Park boulevards in Colorado Springs. The chain plans to launch construction of a second store in the area at the location.
* New stores for big-name retailers? A proposal submitted to city government planners showed that Dick's Sporting Goods, one of the nation's largest sporting goods chains, plans to build a nearly 100,000-square-foot store as part of the Crest at Woodmen mixed-use development, southeast of Interstate 25 and Woodmen Road on Colorado Springs' north side.
The proposal indicated that construction could begin in late 2025. Meanwhile, a separate proposal submitted to city government officials indicated that national bookseller Barnes & Noble is eying a new store at the First & Main Town Center retail complex on the Springs' east side.