Visitors of The Exchange in Old Town can spend time in the public plaza with alcoholic beverages in hand starting in late April. The Liquor Licensing Authority granted The Exchange a common consumption license today after the Fort Collins City Council approved the establishment of an entertainment district on March 5th. Developer, owner and property manager Brinkman will implement security measures to police the open container area when gates are open from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. daily. The first day of common consumption will be in late April 2019.
The Exchange marks the 10th entertainment district in the state of Colorado and the first in Fort Collins. Brinkman collaborated with municipal entities, as well as the individual businesses in The Exchange, to ensure the area is safe, community-oriented and managed effectively. The security plan includes imposing rules and regulations on patrons and participating businesses who serve alcohol. Such rules and regulations of the common consumption area include the requirement that all alcoholic beverages be in disposable containers that showcase the business names of the location that served the drink. Beverage servers will verify ages of patrons and provide wristbands to individuals 21 years of age and older with a checkmark for each drink served. During the operating hours of the common consumption area, each business is required to have a server complete hourly checks of the area to ensure only patrons with wristbands are consuming alcoholic beverages. Patrons out of compliance with the rules and regulations will be asked to leave the premises.
The Exchange redevelopment includes a mix of boutique fitness, indoor miniature golf, restaurant, retail, office and brewery space. The tenants represent a blend of local businesses and successful concepts from elsewhere in Colorado. Tenants include artisan donuts by FoCo DoCo, urban winery Infinite Monkey Theorem, street tacos by Vatos Tacos and Tequila, floral pop-up shop by bloom and a new chicken and waffles concept by Chick’nCone. Old Town Churn Ice Cream by Little Man Ice Cream out of Denver anchors the outdoor plaza with a 30-foot-tall churn as their storefront.
The 23,840-square foot building on the north end of the development is home to existing tenants CopperMuse Distillery, FoCo Da Vinci Body, Club Pilates, Norris Design,, Old Town Putt, and Allstate. The Pizza Press, a build-your-own-pizza and craft beer restaurant occupies the development’s south-facing building, along with Crooked Stave Brewery.
On top of the diverse tenants, there’s a free book library, self-service bike repair station, fire pit and public artwork embedded throughout the outdoor areas. The original intent of the development was to have cohesive activity happening within the center of the individual businesses and to allow patrons to enjoy food and drinks from their place of choice and convene in the plaza. The long-term vision for the plaza is to have year-round family-friendly events, that will not only provide a community space, but help bring new life to a previously defunct area of Old Town Fort Collins.
Developer and owner Kevin Brinkman described the entertainment district and common consumption area as an avenue to help realize the vision of the project to “increase the vibrancy of this block and extend Old Town further north.” Tenants of The Exchange spoke in favor of the initiative during council meetings leading up to the Liquor Licensing hearing noting that this would allow for a convenient communing area for visitors and families that ultimately supports all the businesses.
Jason Hevelone, owner of CopperMuse Distillery, is the only tenant that has remained in place throughout the development construction. Hevelone says he supports the initiative and expects it will help all tenants.
“I anticipate a significant increase in our business,” he said. “Families and groups will now be able to pick and choose from the many food and drink offerings at The Exchange and congregate together in the beautiful courtyard area.”
Brinkman noted, “Our vision for The Exchange has always been centered on creating a uniquely Fort Collins experience that fosters collaboration, innovation and connections. The introduction of the common consumption area will activate the communal areas of the project and support the programming we’re able to provide.”
About Brinkman
Brinkman is a mission-driven real estate development and investment company and a Certified B Corporation. We create community-based projects that generate positive economic and social multipliers for investors, communities, and families. Our projects are focused on crafting unique spaces while delivering on a triple bottom line – People, Place, Prosperity. Since 2005, the company has been providing real estate solutions throughout Colorado.
For more information about Brinkman, please visit www.brinkmancolorado.com.