The Bonnie Brae Ice Cream shop, with its red and white striped awning and red and white neon sign, has long been one of the most recognizable sights in Denver. And on a warm 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 has recognized the shop’s impact in the community by naming it a Denver Legacy Business. Denver Economic Development and Opportunity announced the award Friday for Bonnie Brae Ice Cream and 35 other Denver businesses.
The neighborhood favorite is now on a list of 85 longtime, independent enterprises in Denver honored for contributing to the community’s “character and vitality” and the city’s culture.
“We are first of all 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 “kind of stumbled into it” when the former Dolly Madison ice cream chain closed all its stores. They owned the building and instead of leasing it, they decided it would be fun to start their own ice cream shop.
“We had to completely gut it and start over 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 excitement, Simon said. Bonnie Brae makes all its ice cream on site. Judy Simon went through training at Utah State University to learn the art of ice-cream making.
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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 business.
Carmine’s on Penn, an Italian family-style restaurant in the West Washington Park neighborhood, was also named a Denver Legacy Business. Carmine’s, in business for almost 31 years, has murals and menus on chalkboards on the walls.
Owner Brad Ritter said it’s a good feeling to be recognized by the city. He hopes Carmine’s has made a difference in the community. Guests often tell how him long they’ve been patronizing the restaurant or say it’s where they always celebrate birthdays or anniversaries.
“It’s nice to hear that,” Ritter said.
The latest designees are:
Artisan Center
Bar Max
Bonnie Brae Ice Cream
The Brass Bed, Fine Linens & Furnishings
Cafe Brazil
Carmine’s on Penn
China Chef
The Corner Beet
Dancin’ Dreams
Denver Book Rack
El Taco De Mexico
Flawless Steel
Hey Bangkok
The Horseshoe Lounge
Inward Fitness
Jerri’s Tobacco Shop & Fine Wines
Karma Asian Cuisine
La Fogata Mexican Restaurant
Marble Empire LLC
Marczyk Fine Wines
Metropolis Coffee
Master Yosvany Taekwondo
Moongate Asian Grill
Noble Beast Dog Training
Olive & Finch
Root Down
Rishi’s Community Yoga
Silk Road
Swim ‘N Things
Tiger Kim’s Academy
Tortilleria Colorado
Watercourse Foods
X Bar
Upstairs Circus
To qualify for the recognition, a business must have operated for more than 10 years, have annual gross revenue between $30,000 and $5 million, and currently have a brick-and-mortar location in the city.
The complete list of Denver Legacy businesses can be found on the Denver Legacy Businesses Registry.
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