Olde Town Arvada takes step toward common consumption area

Business Den | Maia Luem August 22, 2023

Olde Town Arvada is the latest suburban neighborhood in the metro area to take a step toward allowing visitors to wander around with an alcoholic beverage, while Denver continues to see no takers on the concept.

The Arvada City Council voted 6-0 earlier this month, with one member absent, to approve an entertainment district application for Olde Town Arvada.

Becoming an entertainment district allows businesses that are in areas closed off to vehicle traffic to create an association and apply for a common consumption area, which then allows customers to drink and roam. The setup is the result of a state law passed in 2011. 

The district approved last week encompasses all 41.5 acres of Olde Town Arvada, which spans from Ralston Road to Grandview Avenue and Yukon Street to Upham Street. 

For Olde Town, that means just under 30 businesses with liquor licenses in the pedestrian mall area between Grandview Avenue, Webster Street and Olde Wadsworth Boulevard would be able to serve to-go alcoholic beverages. Olde Town Arvada Business Improvement District (BID) submitted the application on behalf of its constituents. 

“I think the entertainment district statute definitely could be revised in order to better serve a community like Olde Town Arvada,” BID Director Joe Hengstler told BusinessDen. “The number one suggestion we would have is eliminating the requirement that common consumption areas require a closed street. That does force our hand to exclude businesses from being able to participate.”

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