Stan's Auto Sales

Stan's Auto Sales, 7500 East Colfax, Denver (undated photo courtesy of the Shorty Hanger collection and scanned by Todd Matuszewicz)

Also pictured is a sign for Bragdon's TV at 7540 East Colfax.

West Vernon Hotel

 West Vernon Hotel-Sid King's Crazy Horse Bar

This two-part commercial block at 1201 East Colfax Avenue was built in 1905 on lots 21 and 22 of block 31 in the Park Avenue Addition for a cost of $21,000. The three-story Mediterranean Revival style building was designed by architect Edwin H. Moorman, whose other works included the Fillmore Auditorium, Park Hill Fire Station, and the iconic Tower of Jewels at Lakeside Amusement Park. The property was owned by John S. and Nellie Flower.  John, a prominent investor and president of the Real Estate Exchange, had purchased the parcels in 1900 from the Jefferson Investment Company.

In 1912, the Flowers sold the building to the Scherrer Land and Investment Company. Through the years, many different commercial businesses occupied the ground level of the building.  Perhaps most notably, Sid King’s Crazy Horse Bar occupied the building beginning in 1948.  King and his partner Joseph Goodman purchased the building from owner William Vasil in 1965.  Westword magazine credited the Crazy Horse as one of the anchoring post-World War II properties on East Colfax that turned the thoroughfare into the “gauntlet of dives, XXX theatres, hookers, (and) drug deals…” An iconic Denver burlesque club, it attracted notable locals, celebrities, and dignitaries alike, among them Elvis Presley, King Hussein of Jordan, and Clint Eastwood. The interior and exterior of 1201 E. Colfax was included in Eastwood's 1978 film “Every Which Way But Loose.” Outside his club, Sid King was a noted philanthropist.

Denver Drumstick

Courtesy Save the Signs

Denver Drumstick, 6301 East Colfax, Denver

Other locations listed: 6801 West Colfax, 1490 South Colorado, 4095 South Santa Fe and 7400 North Federal.

6301 East Colfax was the 3rd location of Denver Drumstick. The original opened at 6801 West Colfax in 1955, but later moved to 6501 West Colfax in 1967.

Hickory Pit Bar Barbeque

 

Hickory Pit Bar Barbecue, 12039 East Colfax Avenue, Aurora, Colorado (undated photo courtesy of the Shorty Hanger collection and scanned by Todd Matuszewicz)

It's unclear if this sign was ever made. In addition to the Colfax and Peoria restaurant, there were several other Denver-area locations over the years of a restaurant called "Hickory Pit" or "Hickory Pit Bar-B-Que."

Ads from 1954 proclaimed the Aurora restaurant to be "under new management." A 1959 newspaper article mentions the grand opening of Hickory Pit located at 7950 Federal Blvd in Westminster. The Westminster location advertised another grand opening in 1960. An ad from 1961 lists Hickory Pit Bar-B-Que at 28th and Downing and a 1965 ad lists it at 2861 Colorado Blvd.

A Bar D Motel

 

A Bar D Motel, 11891 West Colfax, Lakewood, Colorado, 1950s

Color Harmony Center

Color Harmony Center / Aurora Color Center, 10216 East Colfax Avenue, Aurora, Colorado (undated photo courtesy of the Shorty Hanger collection and scanned by Todd Matuszewicz)

Mesa Motor Inn

 

West Colfax, 1976

 

Eden Motor Lodge

 

La Vista Motel

 

Compass Motor Lodge

 

Courtesy Motel

 

East Colfax, 1971

East Colfax & Fulton Street (looking east), Aurora, Colorado, 1971

Signs and businesses include White's Store (10061 East Colfax), Leher's Flowers (10115 East Colfax), Jester Lounge (10139 East Colfax), Taylor's Liquors (10201 East Colfax) and Coach Light Restaurant (10305 East Colfax).

Farmers Group Insurance

Farmers Group Insurance, 9955 East Colfax Avenue, Aurora, Colorado (undated photo courtesy of the Shorty Hanger collection and scanned by Todd Matuszewicz)

Drive In Laundromat

  

Drive-In Laundromat, 10941 East Colfax Avenue, Aurora, Colorado (undated photo courtesy of the Shorty Hanger collection and scanned by Todd Matuszewicz)

This building is still home to a laundromat today called Laundry on the Fax.

 

Chris Maurer's Town House Restaurant

Circle D Motel

 

Palomino Motor Lodge

 

Holiday Chalet

 

Ranger Motel

 

Pup 'n' Taco

Pup 'n' Taco, 1775 East Colfax, Denver, 1973 - 1985 (photos courtesy of Roger Wendell)

Bill Bayer's Holiday Inn

Courtesy Save the Signs

Bill Bayer's Holiday Inn, 6300 West Colfax Avenue, 1953

 

This ad for Bill Bayer's Holiday Inn appeared in the Fall 1953 edition of the Denver Yellow Pages. There's not much information to be found regarding this nightclub, but there are plenty of newspaper ads from the same period that reference the Turf Club, also listed at 6300 West Colfax. An ad dated August 1, 1953 even lists Bill Bayer as the new owner of the Turf Club. Perhaps he briefly considered changing the name but had second thoughts.

Hanger Neon & Sign Co.

Hanger Neon & Sign Co, 15225 East Colfax Avenue (undated photo courtesy of the Shorty Hanger collection and scanned by Todd Matuszewicz)

Hanger Neon moved around the city over the years. In the early 1950s, they were located at 1323 Hanover St before moving to 1420 Kingston St. By the 1960s, they were located at 15225 East Colfax. By 1971, they had moved to 2177 West 10th Avenue in Denver.

Kenton Motel

Kenton Motel, 1463 Kenton St, Aurora, Colorado, (sketch courtesy of the Shorty Hanger collection and photographed by Todd Matuszewicz)

Although its sign is long gone and the Kenton Motel no longer exists as a business, the building still stands and the rooms now function as apartments. It's located behind the Radiant Motel on East Colfax and across the street from Jubilee Coffee Roasters.

Berry's Coffee Shop

Berry's Coffee Shop, 7030 West Colfax Avenue, Lakewood, Colorado, 1957

Berry's operated at this West Colfax address from approximately 1956 to 1963. By 1964, Berry's had moved to a new address at 3010 W 72nd Ave in Westminster. Architect Richard Crowther designed the West Colfax Berry's, making great use of natural light and creating an iconic structure that's sorely missed today.

The restaurant was run by brothers Joe and Jack Berry who reportedly also operated the Copper Kitchen restaurant at 8591 West Colfax. Copper Kitchen was also designed by Richard Crowther.

Colfax & Corona Street, 1988

 

Colfax Avenue & Corona Street, 1988.

New China Cafe

 

New China Cafe, 732 East Colfax, 1974

New China opened in 1942 and by 1973 they had moved to a new location at 4151 East Colfax. That location remained open until at least 1990 but was replaced by a Blockbuster Video soon after.

Other signs and businesses include Club Red Beret, Argonaut Liquors, Standard Oil and Safeway.

J. Solf Building

 

1976 Original Ira Gay Sealy Photo of the J. Solf Building on Colfax Avenue West.

Winter Scene, 1981

Snowy Winter Scene on East Colfax Avenue in Denver, 1981.