So I noticed a few weeks ago that the old Marco's-High Street Speakeasy-Jezebel's-Gin and Sin building had a new sign up: High Street Bar and Grill. So, being the nosy guy I am, I stopped in to say hello.
As was usually the case at Jezebel's, I was one of only three customers in the place during a Friday evening happy hour. I introduced myself to the folks behind the bar, who turned out to be Joe and Sharon, the owners.
Really nice people. Turns out she is the daughter of Frank, the long-time owner of the building. They have hopes of making it a good local neighborhood bar with some TV's for Denver sports and (finally for the building) some food. I rapped with them for some time to get a feel for their vision for the place, and have to say I believe they have a better chance of making it than the previous iterations... here's why.
One, they aren't paying rent, since they are the owners of the place. This instantly allows them to build the business slowly (and it will grow slowly, if at all) without financial pressure.
And two, they bring a network of neighborhood old-timers that have known the family for years. The two other tables that were there when I was clearly used to frequent the place when it was Marcos (but stopped when Jezebel's went in).
For me, there is the rub. Joe was telling me how they saw Jake's as their main competition. No way! Jakes has a better, bigger location, a vast restaurant menu, and is catering to the new neighbors with comedy, dj's, and a swanky (at least for Cole) Sunday brunch. From talking to Joe, and from noticing the neighborhood old-timers that were there when I visited, they are much more Phil's place. A hole-in-the-wall local bar where the local old-timers that curse the metamorphosis of the neighborhood go to drink Budweiser, eat Menudo and swear at the Broncos game.
Hey, I wish them well, hope they succeed, and I'll stop in again. But in all honesty I will be very surprised if they can walk that fine line between old and new neighborhoods. My bet is not, and as a result, the place will be the gathering place for old neighbors, not new.
And there is nothing wrong with that if it makes money.
At least until the neighborhood really turns, Rock Drill lofts get finished, and some professional restauranteurs or bar owners snap the place up and bring a little bit of Highlands posh to NE Cole.
So check it out, and see what you think.
