La Vista Motel
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There’s been a lot of action on East Colfax Avenue lately, from new restaurants and bars opening to the ongoing effort to redevelop the All Inn Motel.
While construction is underway at that building, another retro motel is ready to make its official comeback. La Vista Motel is now open at 5500 East Colfax; it was built in 1956 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior.
Denver developer Nathan Beal is behind its restoration. “We are thrilled to welcome guests to La Vista Motel,” he says in an announcement that the 23-room motel is now open. “Our goal was to create a space that honors the past while delivering a completely unique and modern experience. We like to say, ‘A little bit motel. A whole lot of mood.’ We can’t wait for the community and travelers to experience the restoration.”
The building’s exterior was updated by Sopher Sparn Architects and features a mural by local artist Emma Friday; the neon sign was restored by Morry’s Neon. The interior design is by Melissa Friday of Xan Creative, which is behind the look of many popular restaurants, including Snooze, Ginger Pig and Steuben’s.
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La Vista Motel
While the motel aims to draw guests from out of town, locals will benefit from La Vista’s on-site coffee shop and cocktail bar, El Piñon. Weston Scott, founder of Ephemeral Rotating Taproom (one of our favorite beer destinations in town), is operating the space, which serves specialty coffee drinks made with locally-roasted Servant Coffee, boozy libations, beer and wine — including bubbly on tap. The space also includes Grandma’s Basement, a lower-level room meant to evoke the feeling of hanging out in a ’60s-era basement. It is available for private events and meetings, but also open to anyone looking for a quiet place to sip coffee or work.
The motel is planning a grand opening celebration for the community on December 6 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., complete with food trucks, live DJs in Grandma’s Basement, and additional programming to be announced next week.
La Vista Motel is located at 5500 East Colfax Avenue. El Piñon is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit lavistadenver.com.
