The Natural Grocers at 1433 Washington St. will close at the end of this month. (Google Maps)
Cap Hill is losing a grocery store.
Lakewood-based health food chain Natural Grocers said in a Wednesday news release that it will close its store at 1433 Washington St. at the end of this month. The store is just south of Colfax Avenue and, despite its address, faces Pearl Street.
Natural Grocers cited theft and unspecified “safety issues” in its decision to close.
“We have been actively working to address the theft and safety issues impacting our store at Colfax and Washington for some time,” Natural Grocers Co-President Kemper Isely said in a statement. “Despite our investment in security and loss prevention strategies over the years, these factors have continued to challenge our ability to operate our store safely and sustainably, and we have made the difficult decision to close.”
The store opened in February 2014 in what had been an Office Depot.
Natural Grocers’ lease for the building expires in four to five years, according to the company’s landlord, Jeff Robinson of Hampton Partners. Robinson said he learned of the decision Wednesday morning, and that no discussions have been held about Natural Grocers terminating its lease earlier or subletting the building.
“I’m sure discussions will occur, but in the meantime they have the right to go dark in their lease,” Robinson said.
Robinson firm owns retail buildings across two blocks — Pearl Street and Washington Street, where the Robinson family-owned Argonaut Wine & Liquor is a tenant. That business hasn’t faced the same issues, he said.
“One block over, at Washington and Colfax, where we operate the liquor store, we don’t have these problems,” he said.
But Robinson said he isn’t doubting Natural Grocers’ explanation.
“I believe the store performance has gone down, and I think that’s a reflection of the conditions of the neighborhood right there,” he said.
Colfax and Pearl has “been a very tough corner for a lot of years,” but things have gotten worse recently, Robinson said. Network Coffee House, a gathering spot for the homeless at 1401 Pearl St., closed for a week in July, citing increased “disruptive substance use, violence and camping around property.”
“It’s a shame,” Robinson said. “Grocery stores in the urban core are treasured.”
Robinson said Natural Grocers took care of security for its store, but that his firm separately handled security for the whole property, which also includes an adjacent building at 616 E. Colfax Ave. After closing in the building that Natural Grocers now occupies, Office Depot moved there, only to close in 2022. It has been replaced with a dialysis center.
Robinson said he’s increased security in the last month or so, and “relandscaped to try and keep the homeless from gathering there.” That work included repaving the parking lot and repainting light poles.
“We’ll work with all the interested parties to try and make it safe again,” Robinson said, adding he’s previously dealt with Denver police and Mayor Mike Johnston’s office.
Robinson said he’s holding out hope that Natural Grocers could opt to reopen. Everything in the store will be 10 percent off starting Friday, according to the company.
Cap Hill, Denver’s densest residential neighborhood, still has a Trader Joe’s, King Soopers and Ideal Market, plus a Safeway just outside its boundaries. Whole Foods owns Ideal Market.
The closure will leave Natural Grocers with 45 stores in Colorado, including seven others within Denver city limits, according to the company’s website.
Natural Grocers is also switching up its footprint in the southern suburbs. A store at 1265 Sergeant Jon Stiles Drive in Littleton will close on Oct. 7 and be replaced with one a half-mile away at 9315 Dorchester Street in Highland Ranch. The latter will open on Oct. 10, according to the company.
The Natural Grocers at 1433 Washington St. will close at the end of this month. (Google Maps)
Cap Hill is losing a grocery store.
Lakewood-based health food chain Natural Grocers said in a Wednesday news release that it will close its store at 1433 Washington St. at the end of this month. The store is just south of Colfax Avenue and, despite its address, faces Pearl Street.
Natural Grocers cited theft and unspecified “safety issues” in its decision to close.
“We have been actively working to address the theft and safety issues impacting our store at Colfax and Washington for some time,” Natural Grocers Co-President Kemper Isely said in a statement. “Despite our investment in security and loss prevention strategies over the years, these factors have continued to challenge our ability to operate our store safely and sustainably, and we have made the difficult decision to close.”
The store opened in February 2014 in what had been an Office Depot.
Natural Grocers’ lease for the building expires in four to five years, according to the company’s landlord, Jeff Robinson of Hampton Partners. Robinson said he learned of the decision Wednesday morning, and that no discussions have been held about Natural Grocers terminating its lease earlier or subletting the building.
“I’m sure discussions will occur, but in the meantime they have the right to go dark in their lease,” Robinson said.
Robinson firm owns retail buildings across two blocks — Pearl Street and Washington Street, where the Robinson family-owned Argonaut Wine & Liquor is a tenant. That business hasn’t faced the same issues, he said.
“One block over, at Washington and Colfax, where we operate the liquor store, we don’t have these problems,” he said.
But Robinson said he isn’t doubting Natural Grocers’ explanation.
“I believe the store performance has gone down, and I think that’s a reflection of the conditions of the neighborhood right there,” he said.
Colfax and Pearl has “been a very tough corner for a lot of years,” but things have gotten worse recently, Robinson said. Network Coffee House, a gathering spot for the homeless at 1401 Pearl St., closed for a week in July, citing increased “disruptive substance use, violence and camping around property.”
“It’s a shame,” Robinson said. “Grocery stores in the urban core are treasured.”
Robinson said Natural Grocers took care of security for its store, but that his firm separately handled security for the whole property, which also includes an adjacent building at 616 E. Colfax Ave. After closing in the building that Natural Grocers now occupies, Office Depot moved there, only to close in 2022. It has been replaced with a dialysis center.
Robinson said he’s increased security in the last month or so, and “relandscaped to try and keep the homeless from gathering there.” That work included repaving the parking lot and repainting light poles.
“We’ll work with all the interested parties to try and make it safe again,” Robinson said, adding he’s previously dealt with Denver police and Mayor Mike Johnston’s office.
Robinson said he’s holding out hope that Natural Grocers could opt to reopen. Everything in the store will be 10 percent off starting Friday, according to the company.
Cap Hill, Denver’s densest residential neighborhood, still has a Trader Joe’s, King Soopers and Ideal Market, plus a Safeway just outside its boundaries. Whole Foods owns Ideal Market.
The closure will leave Natural Grocers with 45 stores in Colorado, including seven others within Denver city limits, according to the company’s website.
Natural Grocers is also switching up its footprint in the southern suburbs. A store at 1265 Sergeant Jon Stiles Drive in Littleton will close on Oct. 7 and be replaced with one a half-mile away at 9315 Dorchester Street in Highland Ranch. The latter will open on Oct. 10, according to the company.
