The lobby operates at 2191 Arapahoe St. in Denver. (Karoline Leonard/BusinessDen)
The owners of Ballpark brunch spot The Lobby have bought its real estate.
Cory Schwab and Christian Batizy bought the business’ unit at 2191 Arapahoe St., at the base of a three-story building, for $1.3 million, according to public records. The space is 6,000 square feet.
Batizy, who is also director of operations, said the restaurant’s lease was about to expire.
“We could decide to move, re-sign a lease downtown which we didn’t want to do or buy the building,” Batizy said. “We were able to finance it and decided it was time … For the long term, the best decision was to buy our building. We’re gonna update the infrastructure, like the event space, to expand it more and hopefully make our focus even more on events.”
Christian Batizy poses for a portrait at The Lobby at 2191 Arapahoe St. on Aug. 6, 2024. (Karoline Leonard/BusinessDen)
Cory and Rachael Schwab opened The Lobby in 2009 in the former lobby of the Paris Hotel, a Victorian hotel built in 1891. In 1935, the hotel was turned into lofts and retail space. The patio that The Lobby also occupies was built out in the 1980s.
Batizy began working at The Lobby in 2012 and was general manager before he and his wife Meg became operating partners in December of that year.
The Lobby is a full-service restaurant by day, specializing in breakfast and brunch options, and an event space in the afternoons and evenings. Batizy said currently 20 percent of their operations are focused on events, but he expects that to grow 25 percent to 35 percent. Batizy said the business hosts an array of gatherings, from weddings to corporate parties to even a wine festival.
The Lobby opened in 2009. (Karoline Leonard/BusinessDen)
Batizy said he’s seen downtown and Ballpark change in recent years, especially after the pandemic. He said The Lobby and other nearby restaurants did really well in 2022, but full-service numbers have been steadily decreasing every summer since.
“Full service is down,” Batizy said. “In 2022, it was busy across the board for everybody. 2023 saw a decrease, especially in the summer. Summer ‘24 is down more, it’s very slow.”
Batizy said those numbers made him disinterested in renewing his lease or signing a new one elsewhere downtown. But he said he believes in the Ballpark neighborhood’s viability.
“In five to seven years, I think it will grow,” Batizy said. “I think it’s one of the areas most likely to grow. … Safety and security of Ballpark has improved a lot, and I want to see the neighborhood improve even more.”
The lobby operates at 2191 Arapahoe St. in Denver. (Karoline Leonard/BusinessDen)
The owners of Ballpark brunch spot The Lobby have bought its real estate.
Cory Schwab and Christian Batizy bought the business’ unit at 2191 Arapahoe St., at the base of a three-story building, for $1.3 million, according to public records. The space is 6,000 square feet.
Batizy, who is also director of operations, said the restaurant’s lease was about to expire.
“We could decide to move, re-sign a lease downtown which we didn’t want to do or buy the building,” Batizy said. “We were able to finance it and decided it was time … For the long term, the best decision was to buy our building. We’re gonna update the infrastructure, like the event space, to expand it more and hopefully make our focus even more on events.”
Christian Batizy poses for a portrait at The Lobby at 2191 Arapahoe St. on Aug. 6, 2024. (Karoline Leonard/BusinessDen)
Cory and Rachael Schwab opened The Lobby in 2009 in the former lobby of the Paris Hotel, a Victorian hotel built in 1891. In 1935, the hotel was turned into lofts and retail space. The patio that The Lobby also occupies was built out in the 1980s.
Batizy began working at The Lobby in 2012 and was general manager before he and his wife Meg became operating partners in December of that year.
The Lobby is a full-service restaurant by day, specializing in breakfast and brunch options, and an event space in the afternoons and evenings. Batizy said currently 20 percent of their operations are focused on events, but he expects that to grow 25 percent to 35 percent. Batizy said the business hosts an array of gatherings, from weddings to corporate parties to even a wine festival.
The Lobby opened in 2009. (Karoline Leonard/BusinessDen)
Batizy said he’s seen downtown and Ballpark change in recent years, especially after the pandemic. He said The Lobby and other nearby restaurants did really well in 2022, but full-service numbers have been steadily decreasing every summer since.
“Full service is down,” Batizy said. “In 2022, it was busy across the board for everybody. 2023 saw a decrease, especially in the summer. Summer ‘24 is down more, it’s very slow.”
Batizy said those numbers made him disinterested in renewing his lease or signing a new one elsewhere downtown. But he said he believes in the Ballpark neighborhood’s viability.
“In five to seven years, I think it will grow,” Batizy said. “I think it’s one of the areas most likely to grow. … Safety and security of Ballpark has improved a lot, and I want to see the neighborhood improve even more.”
