Justin Lloyd wants to give his Ballpark neighborhood some more star power.
The Pueblo native has owned Star Bar at 2137 Larimer St. for 15 years, having bought the mural-clad brick building and its warm dive inside from the original owner, who opened the spot in 1959.
Back in 2010, “this was the end of civilization … there was no RiNo,” Lloyd said. But over the past 15 years, he watched as “all the development jumped from 20th Street to past Broadway.”
Lloyd, 55, has something in mind to bring folks back to Ballpark.
At the start of the month, Lloyd sent some plans over to the city that propose expanding bar operations onto the 6,250-square-foot parking lot next door.
The bar has occasionally used the lot for special events, such as Rockies opening day. But Lloyd wants to build it out somewhat. Most of it would be a warm-weather patio that could fit some 200 people, with food trucks parked just off the street in a “residency-type situation.”
Then, there would be a covered stage, for the country and Americana bands that Lloyd enjoys. A small bar out behind the existing Star Bar would be expanded, and extra bathrooms would be installed.
“The neighborhood needs activation and needs things to happen big-time,” he said.
But hold your horses — Lloyd stressed this plan is still “monstrously exploratory.” He has no budget and no timeline for the project, and expects it will be several months before Denver reviews the proposal.
While Lloyd and his partners — he bought the bar with Ken Himel, a broker with David Hicks & Lampert Brokerage, and Jonathan Bush, the late co-founder of real estate firm LCP — own their building, they do not own the parking lot. Lloyd said he’s trying to lease it.
So, for now, it’s business as usual. But even that’s been a bit harder of late.
“The whole bar, restaurant industry still hasn’t recovered from COVID,” Lloyd said.
Alcohol is up 10% to 25% across the board — a Coors Banquet at Star Bar costs around $5 — and property taxes have only gone up, he added.
Right now, Star Bar doesn’t charge a cover when it hosts bands, although it pays the acts. If Lloyd can add the stage, he wants to bring in bigger gigs and sell tickets, giving him another revenue source.
It also will be a chance for him to breathe some country sound onto his slice of Ballpark. Lloyd’s musical tastes range from Merle Haggard to George Strait, from old-school bluegrass to more contemporary acts. He would continue booking the bands himself, unlike many other operators in town that coordinate with a larger entertainment conglomerate.
“It’s also trying to do something that’s still uniquely Denver … live music (with local bands) is a huge part of that,” Lloyd said.
But for now, his corner of 22nd and Larimer Street has been a bit quiet. Biker Jim’s, an eclectic eatery with rattlesnake and elk hot dogs, closed late last year. A golf simulator bar is supposed to move in next door to it, but not much work appears to have been done. On the other side of the parking lot next to Star Bar, a dance studio is slated to fill an old fitness center.
Lloyd came to Denver around 2000 and has worked in the bar industry his entire professional life, most recently for ESPN Zone, an “eatertainment” concept run by the sports broadcasting giant.
“We’d love to be in this neighborhood forever,” Lloyd said.
“I think this bar will always be here.”
