Hang up your skates, Skippy. The ice rink at Fillmore Plaza in Cherry Creek won’t be there this holiday season.
You can’t blame the Grinch. It’s the grid.
Seems the considerable electric power that ran the rink came from the Larry’s Shoes site. And Larry’s Shoes store and site walked away when ground was broken for the construction of North Creek, Chris Anschutz’s retail-condo development on the block that borders the plaza. To further complicate matters, in mid-October construction will start along the west side of the plaza, taking up space where the rink once ruled.
The rink started with a two- year stint at Founder’s Plaza, then moved for the past seven years to Fillmore Plaza, only missing the 2000 season for budget reasons.
Christina Brickley, spokeswoman for rink host Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District, says they tried every option – including relocating the rink over by Elway’s, but nothing worked.
“It’s really sad, but it’ll be back next year,” says Brickley. “It was kind of clunky looking. Next year it will be a newer, sleeker, better rink.”
The rink was a hit, bringing 55,000 people to the neighborhood in eight weeks. No more.
And there’s no time for a last-minute save. The rink already has been sold.
We hardly knew ye
Cherry Creek Shopping Center’s Lisa Herzlich leaves Denver in January to head up Phil An-
schutz’s L.A. Live development in downtown Los Angeles. A huge job – and Herzlich can handle it. (See story on Herzlich in today’s business section.)
Herzlich has been a powerhouse marketing fixture in Colorado for 30 years, most notably the last 14 at the shopping center, where she oversaw the Mask Project, breast cancer initiatives and the seasonal parade of Santa Clauses.
During interviews, L.A. courted her like match.com. on broadband. L.A. Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa even left flowers and a note in her “wow” room at the Standard (of course) sharing his desire to have her on the downtown team.
“This was a very emotional decision,” she says. “The hardest thing is leaving my friends.”
They’ll save you a seat at Elway’s.
Herzlich doesn’t leave until January. “There are still 88 shopping days until Christmas!” she says – always on the job.
Heather’s hunk
The latest word from celeb sites has Heather Locklear recovering from her David Spade breakup by dating Aspen real estate guy Bill Small. They were recently snapped leaving a Beverly Hills steakhouse. He’s an agent with Frias Properties of Aspen, where his profile says he “specializes in the marketing and selling of high-end exclusive residential properties.”
City spirit
Marc Brown, the author of the “Arthur” series, speaks at the Colorado Children’s Campaign Luncheon Wednesday … Walter Isenberg’s Sage Hospitality set to buy JW Marriott … Sightem: Kevin Costner at seven eurobar in Boulder – visiting his son, Joe Costner, a CU-Boulder student. Dad drank milk with dinner, served in a carafe! … Sez who: “Movies are fun, but they’re not a cure for cancer.” Warren Beatty
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Husted also appears Tuesdays and Fridays on “Good Day Colorado” on Fox 31. You can reach him at 303-954-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com.
