In June of ’99, Steve Schalk wrapped up his gorgeous renovation of the Gothic Theatre in Englewood and presented it to the public. In March of ’06, he opened the curtains on a much larger Ogden Theatre — another successful renovation that expanded the theater’s capacity and made it a better room for live music.
Earlier this month, Schalk, his business partner Todd Kinion and his general manager, Greg Zaranski, opened the doors to his latest renovated creation, The Falcon.
Formerly the dank and rustic Sport Bowl — which used to sit in the space two doors south of the Gothic, with its tired bowling lanes, beer-in-the-fridge vibes and stinky carpet — the Falcon is an entertainment complex like no other in the metro area.
In addition to the eight bowling lanes, the pool tables, the pinball, the foosball and the video games, this is also the home to a 250-capacity rock club with a bangin’ PA. And a full-service kitchen with a pizza oven. And a full bar.
We caught up with Schalk to talk about his new baby.
Q:What was the big green light for this project?A: When it became available, I thought it would be nice to have since it’s right here in the same block as the Gothic Theatre. We can utilize the parking that we have next to the Gothic for the Falcon, and everything seemed to work hand in hand.
Q:It’s all right there.A: Yeah, and so many people park south of the Gothic, and they have to walk past the Falcon before every show. Now Gothic customers can meet there before a show or decompress there after the show.
Q:It’s a small space that offers a lot of different things to do.
A: And as customers, we’re looking for more these days. Dave & Buster’s has the arcade games, and the Ogden and Gothic have live music. But here we have the chance to combine a few different things and create an establishment that lends itself to 5-year-old kids and 45- and 95-year-old kids.
Q:What’s weird about the new business?
A: It’s interesting being open at 12 o’clock on a Saturday. People are bowling and eating and drinking at 1 p.m., and then we had a waiting list for people to bowl at 3 p.m. We’re packed at 3 p.m. in the afternoon, and that’s pretty strange for a guy who’s only been in the concert business.
Ricardo Baca: 303-954-1394 or rbaca@denverpost.com
4 More Concerts
Achille Lauro. Car accidents are never any fun. And they’re even less fun when you get hit by a car while you’re on a bicycle. Tonight’s excellent all-locals bill at the Hi-Dive is a fundraiser for Achille Lauro’s Matt Close, who was recently hospitalized after being hit by a van while on his bike. The proceeds go toward his bills, so fork over $6 for some great music and an even better cause. Other groups on the bill: Hello Kavita and Vitamins.
d. biddle. If you haven’t seen this group in the last year, it’s time to head out to the Bluebird on Saturday to catch the fever. Sure, it used to be the quietish, arty band with pretty songs and nuanced live shows. But now d.biddle is a full-on rock band, and people are starting to talk.
Kingdom of Magic. Bang your head at the Hi-Dive’s holiday party on Saturday. We heart the Swayback and Sleeper Horse, of course, but we’re also psyched to see Kingdom of Magic back with its heady riffs and menacing vocals.
American Relay. Sunday night’s bill at the Bluebird is on. The dirge-roots R&B of American Relay will no doubt be on-point, but the bill is full and unique, with twangy rockers Action Packed Thrill Ride also bringing the heat.
Ricardo Baca
