Reader: Perk Hill was more than a coffee shop, it was a neighborhood nexus

Perk Hill, a coffee shop at 22nd and Kearney, closed abruptly this week. And while residents of the area disagree about how well Perk Hill served the neighborhood, with its coolers and "hillbilly furniture," they agree on at least one thing: better an independent neighborhood spot than another Starbucks. Here's...

By Patricia Calhoun

May 20, 2011

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Perk Hill, a coffee shop at 22nd and Kearney, closed abruptly this week. And while residents of the area disagree about how well Perk Hill served the neighborhood, with its coolers and "hillbilly furniture," they agree on at least one thing: better an independent neighborhood spot than another Starbucks.

Here's hilde45's take:

This was more than a coffee shop; it was a nexus, a meeting place, a pillar of Park Hill local life. Perk Hill had an educated sense of what was both epicurean and communal. The landlord/ property owner (who also owns St. Mark's coffee house) of the property, as I understand it, made life difficult for this neighborhood business and community anchor. Let's hope that no one tries swoop in, a la Starbucks, and tries to set up coffee shop in its place after running out our beloved Perk Hill.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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