Open and shut cases: Lala's and Prime 121

Some locations just seem doomed. The latest black hole: 121 Clayton Lane, which on Monday swallowed Prime 121 after two years of struggle and a chapter 11 filing in May. The first occupant of this address didn't even last that long: Bob's Steak & Chop House, home of the giant,...

By Patricia Calhoun

September 11, 2008

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Some locations just seem doomed. The latest black hole: 121 Clayton Lane, which on Monday swallowed Prime 121 after two years of struggle and a chapter 11 filing in May. The first occupant of this address didn't even last that long: Bob's Steak & Chop House, home of the giant, marinated carrot, which debuted in 2005 when Clayton turned into a lane, and didn't win many fans with its carrot-and-steakhouse shtick.

But the outlook is brightening for another black hole, the space at 410 East Seventh Avenue that's devoured Sparrow, Vega, Sacre Bleu, JV's the Cork and assorted other efforts dating back to Transalpin. The folks just around the corner, who've made a go of Govn'rs Park for more than thirty years, have taken on the spot and transformed it into Lala's Wine Bar + Pizzeria, a casual joint that opened soft two weeks ago soft opening and is now open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight.

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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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