Now that Ikea’s gargantuan 92-foot-tall sign looms over southbound traffic on Interstate 25 at County Line Road, some observers are objecting to the monolith that one Facebook poster suggested can be seen from space.
Sorry, haters, too little too late. The sign is staying.
Way back when the Swedish furniture retailer was negotiating with the city of Centennial for a 13.5-acre store site on the northwest corner of I-25 and County Line Road, the city agreed to several concessions to land the megamillion-dollar retailer, whose tax dollars will fatten city coffers.
Concessions included allowing a one-time- only exception to the 32-foot monument sign limit for a freeway-oriented business, plus up to $18 million in financial incentives.
The public was invited to express opinions during open hearings that solicited feedback.
“We didn’t hear anything,” said Allison Wittern, Centennial’s public-information officer.
Centennial’s position was that to land a store with the size (415,000 square feet) and cachet of Ikea, rules had to bend.
“In order to get a retailer like Ikea, you agree to their terms and conditions,” Wittern said. “They’re bringing jobs to the state by hiring for 400 jobs right now. People are going to travel from all over to come to this area.”
The store is to open in the fall.
Park jobs with perks.
Elitch Gardens amusement and water park is readying for the opening of the 2011 season May 7 by hiring 1,500 temporary employees.
Perks for seasonal employees include free park admittance, complimentary tickets for family and friends, in-park discounts and employee parties.
To apply for positions in guest services, park services, ride operations, retail and food and games departments, fill out an online application at .
Dining dollars.
Three South Pearl Street restaurants owned by Japan natives and brothers Yasu and Toshi Kizaki raised more than $51,000 from a portion of dinner sales last week to help in the relief efforts in their homeland.
Each restaurant — Ototo Food and Wine, Sushi Den and Izakaya Den — will continue to have donation buckets available through the end of the month in an effort to raise additional funds for the Red Cross.
New eats.
Row 14 Bistro & Wine Bar inside the Spire condominium building at 14th and Champa streets opened for dinner Tuesday and will add lunch service to the menu Monday.
Row 14 will serve new American cuisine with a wine list that offers 40 wines by the glass and 50 by the bottle. Reservations: or 303-825-0100.
The long-awaited bricks-and-mortar space for cart king Biker Jim’s, at 2148 Larimer St., opens for business Friday.
Owner Jim Pittenger, who for years has peddled his gourmet hot dogs from the cart on the 16th Street Mall at Arapahoe (as well as the parking lot of Argonaut Liquors), will run the restaurant from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays and Mondays, 10 a.m. to midnight Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and 10 a.m. till 3 or 4 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.
“I love hungry drunk people with money,” Pittenger said about the late-night hours.
Eavesdropping
on two colleagues discussing another colleague’s trip with a bunch of people: “Is that who he’s going with? I hope he brought a lot of liquor.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on “Caplis & Silverman” between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
