WHAT THE HELL’S GOING ON?
February 15, 2008
Nothing in this town is sacred anymore.
And it’s clear that no one gives a shit, especially the developer greed-heads who are single-handily ruining this town? That was up until last week - now we can add our elected officials to that category.
Locals have long pointed their fingers at the money-hungry landlords and blame them as the reason we are losing our favorite bars and restaurants, where Aspenites and visitors have come together for hundreds of years, to laugh, love, and learn about one another.
Our most cherished venues for those activities have made this town a community. Now they are vanishing as they get bought up, knocked down and turned into another Gucci or some gourmet eatery. The Red Onion is gone. La Cocina is gone. Cooper Street Bar is on its way out. And, the Little Annie’s building is under contract as part of a $37 million development deal.
And now it appears Bentley’s is in jeopardy, and the “God Damn” City Council is the landlord who controls the lease. If news reports are true, the City Council isn’t so sure Bentley’s is the right fit for the Wheeler Opera House customers. They want something affordable for customers, but perhaps not as “rowdy.”
The lease for the restaurant and bar is up in May of 2009. There’s a chance it won’t be renewed, if you read between the lines on what elected leaders were saying last week.
Ideas have been floated to expand the Wheeler, and when that happens, Bentley’s might be toast. Or so it appears anyway. This lackluster support to keep a popular bar in business sure smells like hypocrisy from a City Council who spends an awful lot of time talking about how to save local watering holes, and locally serving businesses.
We all understand change happens, but this town has reached new levels of greed and stupidity. Get a clue, then grab a pen and renew the lease for decades to come.
