Businesses close to DU hope debate day is a big day for them
It’s going to be a strange arrangement at Happy Canyon Flowers Wednesday. The street in front of the business is one that will be shut down for the presidential debate.
That means there is a big chunk of time employees won’t be able to get deliveries out the door.
General Manager Kendal Hall says, “The debate is going to affect us a lot. We just have to look at this as kind of like a snow day or a blizzard day that you just plan around it.” They will keep their normal store hours, but deliveries will be paused once the road is closed.
Since I-25 will be shut down between Santa Fe and Hampden, most commuters will be detoured onto Santa Fe. For those who need to cut across town, Alameda and Yale will take you east and west. University will also be closed between Evans and Louisiana.
That means a closed road in front of Pete’s University Cafe. Owner Pete Contos says, “We are just going to schedule our staff the same way we do every day and whatever happens, happens. We hope we’ll be busy. If we’re not, we’re not.”
Next door, Mustard’s Last Stand manager Stuart Rubin is hoping the business he’ll lose with the street closure will be counteracted by a big bump in foot traffic since they are close to the event.
He says, “They’re going to need somewhere to eat. We’re looking forward to it. We think it’s going to be pretty exciting.” They are also hoping for a special guest. Rubin says, “Obama is a Chicago boy and he loves hotdogs we’re told.”
Schools and RTD also have some changes for debate day. Leroy Montoya relies on public transportation and says, “If I have to take the extra long way, extra bus routes tomorrow, it’s worth it. It’s great that Colorado is finally getting the attention it deserves.”
Many people feel the same way. Hall says, “A lot of eyes are on Denver. This is such an international event and such an important event I think it’s pretty much our responsibility not to grumble about it.”
