The historic Tea Room in the Denver Dry Goods Building, one of the premier lofts in downtown Denver, has been purchased by a local lawyer.
Dianne Miller, whose firm Miller Gruger and Rosenbluth specializes in securities and public financing, purchased the 4,000-square-foot loft at 16th and California streets last week for $2,695,000. The purchase includes a small studio loft adjacent to the Tea Room loft. The property includes a 4,000-square-foot patio that wraps the fifth-floor loft on three sides.
“It’s an unbelievable, beautiful property,” said the 49- year-old Miller, who with her husband, Joe, has three sons. They plan to make it their primary residence. “It is an iconic treasure of historic downtown Denver.”
During downtown Denver’s heyday following World War II, eating lunch at the Tea Room was a proud tradition, almost a rite of passage, for many Denverites. Mothers and daughters wore white gloves and strings of pearls and were served by apron-clad waitresses bringing warm plates of chicken á la king or prime rib and mashed potatoes covered under gleaming silver domes.
The building was built in 1889 and housed Denver Dry Goods Co. for nearly 80 years. It was one of three dominant department stores on 16th Street, along with the Daniels & Fisher store between Arapahoe and Law rence streets and May Co. at Court Place. Denver Dry Goods Co. closed in 1987 when May Co. bought out both of its competitors.
Entrepreneur Rutt Bridges purchased the loft in 2000 for $1.15 million and refurbished it, leaving intact its groin- vaulted ceilings, plaster scrollwork and numerous bas-relief plaques.
Mike McPhee: 303-954-1409 or mmcphee@denverpost.com
