Arthur Greer, a fixture in downtown Denver for his businesses — many named Jerry’s, — died Jan. 19 at a Denver hospital. He was 72.
Greer owned Jerry’s News, Jerry’s Used Books and Jerry’s Record Exchange, among many other businesses.
Greer used “Jerry” in many of his ventures because his late father, Frederick Lloyd Greer, bought a small news store on Welton Street downtown in 1951 that was called Jerry’s. Art Greer continued to use that name.
Art Greer moved the Welton store to Colfax and Broadway, where it was one of the busiest bookstores in town, family members said. He had the location for 20 years, until the Regional Transportation District bought the property. The store, which moved to Tremont Street and then Court Place, was known for local papers as well as out-of- town papers and foreign magazines.
In all, he owned dozens of businesses, including Diamond Lil’s Adult Emporium, a limousine service; frame stores; a poster store and a comics store. At one time he was in the beekeeping business.
“He started, purchased, sold, closed or loaned money to one business after another,” family members said.
“He was pretty high energy and liked the challenge” of opening businesses, said his wife, Kandice Kamille-Greer of Golden.
“Being an entrepreneur was his hobby, and he was a good speculator,” said Valarie Abney, his ex-wife.
In his high school yearbook, Greer wrote that his ambition in life was to “have everything.”
He also loaned money to people who never paid him back, said Abney, “but he just considered it the price of doing business.”
Arthur Earl Greer was born in Taos, N. M., on Dec. 25, 1938.
He was reared in Fort Logan, and graduated from high school in Hawthorne, Nev.
He studied engineering at Nevada State College, but after two years, the family moved to Denver to get better medical care for Greer, who had colitis.
In addition to his wife and ex-wife, Greer is survived by five daughters: Kandi Jayne, Becki Halamicek of Northglenn, Brandi Wehus of Northglenn, Penni Greer of Federal Heights, and Cheyanne Greer of Denver; a son, Dyllan Greer of Thornton, and stepson, Nigel Koscho; seven grandchildren; and his sister, Karen Glantz of Parker.
Virginia Culver: 303-954-1223 or vculver@denverpost.com
