If not for medical-marijuana dispensaries, Cherry Creek North landlord Aaron LaPedis could have seen the lease on his piece of prime real estate at 313 Detroit St. go up in smoke.
Since no other merchants — retail, restaurant or otherwise — came forward to occupy the space that had a “for lease” sign in its window for nearly a year, LaPedis acquiesced to one of numerous inquiries he had from the medical-marijuana community.
“Let me make this clear,” he said. “Nobody else wanted (the space).”
Come Feb. 4, the doors at 313 Detroit will open to Alpine Herbal Wellness, a dispensary owned by Sue Harank, a customer of LaPedis’ art gallery.
LaPedis is not alone in his decision to lease to medical-marijuana dispensaries in the land of tony boutiques, gift shops, galleries, hair salons and hip eateries.
As of Jan. 20 — the most recent data available from Denver’s treasury department, which issues sales-tax licenses for medical-marijuana dispensaries — Cherry Creek’s 80206 ZIP code ranks No. 5 out of 42 ZIP codes in the number of dispensaries either open or opening in the area. The Jan. 20 figures show that 32 dispensaries in the 80206 area have sales-tax licenses.
Jan. 3 figures from the city treasurer ranked 80206 No. 1 with 31 licenses. The total number of licenses issued in Denver is 469.
How does Cherry Creek North, an area more used to flocks of fashionistas, the stroller set and deep-pocket diners, feel about its sudden popularity among the medical-marijuana community? Officially, the Cherry Creek North board of directors elected not to take a position, according to board chairman Roy Weinstein, owner of Gelato D’Italia, 250 Detroit St.
“They’re probably breathing life into the district,” said Weinstein, who added he hasn’t seen many signs of dispensaries opening in the area. “They’re getting people to come in here and spend some time in Cherry Creek North.”
Girl power.
Two high-powered local ladies will be honored as 2010 Trumpet Awards recipients during High Tea with High Heels at the Hyatt in downtown Atlanta today.
Valencia Faye Wilson Tate, vice president and director of global diversity and inclusion at CH2M Hill, and Valeria Howard-Vason, senior vice president of corporate risk management and commercial-lines operation for Van Gilder Insurance, will accept awards that were created to “celebrate and honor African-American achievers in diverse fields including law, medicine, business, politics and entertainment.”
“We often hear about successful people, but the honorees for High Tea with High Heels are women whose accomplishments in the business sector are unknown to most, yet are nothing short of extraordinary,” said a statement from Xernona Clayton, creator and executive producer of the Trumpet Awards.
EAVESDROPPING
A man giving a toast during KCNC-Channel 4 honcho Walt DeHaven‘s birthday party Saturday at chef Mark Tarbell‘s Home restaurant in the Streets at SouthGlenn:
“Happy birthday to you, and many more at Channel 4, you dinosaur.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-630 AM. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
