Larimer Square and I go way back. Waaaay back. Since I was a child, I’ve been a shopper, diner, festival-goer, and employee there. So the well-preserved block, that was once where early miners bought equipment, get some grub, a stiff drink and a little, um, entertainment, has always been the anchor of Downtown Denver for me. Imagine my delight, then, when I found out about two shops going into the spots I had frequented the most – Garage Sale Denver moved in where Williams-Sonoma was, where I worked my way through college. And The Farmers Market LSQ, where I’d grabbed coffee and a sandwich at The Market before each shift. The latter pop-up concept has now made way for a new place, Larimer Records Café. Time and progress have made way for new great places to become regular stops.
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Most of the businesses in Larimer Square are independent and very local. But Larimer Records Cafe and Garage Sale have something unique about them – they’re the brainchild of Good Baby Management, founded by Josh Sampson, the man and vision behind Denver BAZAAR, TheBigWonderful, Yeah Baby, and Neon Baby. He runs them in partnership with Larimer Square as part of a general revitalization of vibe of the historic block, encouraging new generations to come explore. I got to visit with Josh over a glass of wine soon after the Larimer spots opened and caught the high-energy, true-believer, life-savoring vibe this man puts into everything he does. A little time with him and you’re wondering if all of the sparks of ideas you’ve ever had could have come to fruition if you’d just had the kind of gumption this guy has.
Even if you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Josh, the positive energy, good intentions, and cleverness comes through when you walk into both businesses. If you haven’t already been, here’s a glimpse into what awaits you:
Larimer Records Café:
The newest pop-up by Good Baby in the former “The Market” space, opened on Groundhog Day. You’ll see a few of the same vendors from the Farmers Market iteration like food from Farm to Truck (the food truck folks who are providing the delicious food out of Larimer Record’s kitchen), and Little Owl Coffee Roasters. This concept is more about music and community.
Sit down at listening stations with your “household pod” people at a table or one of the comfy chairs. Choose music from Colorado record labels you probably won’t find anywhere else. That means you’ll be seeing the album and be hearing it for the first time. It’s all part of the revival of LPs and the sound that can only come from a record player’s needle on vinyl. Of course, that’s what they said about the sound quality of CD’s when they first came out. Everything old is new again. And I walked uphill to school both ways. Oh, and get off my lawn!
To help with social distancing, seating is spaced according to current guidelines and there are little coverings for the headphones to keep things sanitary.
Great music with something great to eat and drink go hand in hand. That’s where the Farm to Truck food truck comes in handy. They are known for their fresh cut fries which is unique (no bags of freezer-burned taters), for their lamb burger, vegetarian hempseed wrap, breakfast sandwiches, and salads. You can order from a QR code at your table and have it delivered right to you. Or, you can order at the front counter or from one of the staffers roaming around to make sure you’re doing fine.
To drink, Bourbon is king at the Larimer Record Café. Choose from a bunch of Kentucky and Colorado made Bourbons at their Bourbon bar. Can’t decide which one to have? Try a Colorado Flight or a Kentucky Flight, then maybe settle on a cocktail. There’s also local beer and wine which you can get by the glass or in a six pack or bottle. There’s a heavy emphasis on Colorado selections, as there should be. Count on good coffee there from Little Owl, including using it in their espresso martinis!
Vendors include: Something Vinyl Club; Ryan Dykstra Records; Aural Fetish: Board Certified (Charcuterie); Denver Fashion Truck; Denver Rummage Shop; Rebel Bread Bakery; Hinman’s Bakery; Ya Ye Juice; and Denver Bazaar.
Garage Sale Vintage:
Imagine the coolest garage sale you’ve ever shopped at, where it’s fun (and not sad). The retail scene there, of vintage clothing, accessories, furniture, décor, and records, has expanded so that you can shop upstairs and down. Order creative and reasonably-priced cocktails at the full bar and order a bite to eat from Farm to Truck through the QR codes there, as well.
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