THE Bonnie Brae Ice Cream Shopwith its red and white striped awning and red and white neon sign, has long been one of Denver’s most recognizable landmarks. And on a hot summer day, the line of people stretching out the door and along the brick building at the corner of South University Boulevard and Ohio Avenue is a familiar scene.
The city recognized the store’s impact on the community by naming it Denver Legacy Business. Economic Development and Opportunity in Denver announced the award Friday for Bonnie Brae Ice Cream and 35 other Denver businesses.
The neighborhood favorite is now on a list of 85 long-standing independent Denver businesses honored for their contributions to the “character and vitality” of the community and the city’s culture.
“First of all, we’re very honored,” co-owner Ken Simon said Monday.
Simon and his wife, Judy, joined friends Bob and Cindy Pailet to open the store in 1986. Simon said the four “stumbled upon it” when the former Dolly Madison ice cream chain closed all of its stores. They owned the building and instead of renting it, they decided it would be fun to start their own ice cream parlor.
“We had to completely gut it and start again,” Simon said.
Over the past 38 years, the best part of the business has been getting to know the people who visit and seeing their enthusiasm, Simon said. Bonnie Brae makes all of her ice cream on site. Judy Simon trained at Utah State University to learn the art of ice cream making.
Simon said Denver’s legacy program is a good boost for small businesses. The city said 43 Denver neighborhoods are represented by the program. The median longevity is 22 years in activity.
Carmine’s on Penn, a family-owned Italian restaurant in the West Washington Park neighborhood, was also named a Denver Legacy Business. Carmine’s, in business for nearly 31 years, features murals and menus on boards hanging on the walls.
Owner Brad Ritter said it was a good feeling to be recognized by the city. He hopes Carmine’s has made a difference in the community. Customers often tell him how long they’ve been going to the restaurant or say that’s where they always celebrate their birthdays.
“It’s nice to hear that,” Ritter said.
The latest people designated are:
- Craft center
- Maximum bar
- Bonnie Brae Ice Cream
- The brass bed, linens and refined furniture
- Coffee Brazil
- Carmine is on Penn
- Chinese chef
- The local beetroot
- Dancing dreams
- Denver Bookshelf
- El Taco De Mexico
- Impeccable steel
- Hi Bangkok
- The horseshoe show
- Indoor fitness
- Tobacco store and fine wines Jerri’s
- Asian cuisine Karma
- La Fogata Mexican Restaurant
- Marble Empire LLC
- Marczyk fine wines
- Café Metropole
- Master Yosvany Taekwondo
- Moongate Asian Grill
- Training of noble beast dogs
- Olivier and finch
- Root down
- Rishi Community Yoga
- Silk Road
- Swim and do things
- Tiger Kim Academy
- Tortilleria Colorado
- Stream foods
- X bar
- Circus upstairs
To qualify for this recognition, a business must have been in business for more than 10 years, have annual gross revenue between $30,000 and $5 million, and currently have a physical location in the city.
The full list of Denver Legacy businesses is available at Denver Legacy Business Registry.
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