The historic Tea Room in the Denver Dry Goods Building, one of the premier lofts in downtown Denver, has been purchased by a local attorney.
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 also 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 WWII, 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, to be served by white-aproned waitresses bringing warm plates of chicken a la king or prime rib and mashed potatoes covered under gleaming silver domes.
The building was built in 1889 and housed the Denver Dry Goods Co. for nearly 80 years. It was one of three dominant department stores on 16th Street, including the Daniels & Fisher store between Arapahoe and Lawrence streets, and the May Co. at Court Place. The Denver Dry Goods Co. closed in 1987 when the May Co. bought out both its competitors.
Entrepreneur Rutt Bridges purchased the loft in 2000 for $1.15 million and spent a significant amount of money refurbishing it, leaving intact its groin-vaulted ceilings, plaster scrollwork and numerous bas-relief plaques.
The sale and the purchase were brokered by Dee Chirafisi, owner of Kentwood City Properties. She also brokered the original purchase of the Tea Room in 2000.
Mike McPhee: 303-954-1409 or mmcphee@denverpost.com
