Tom's Diner Has Made History 24/7 on Colfax...but Is It Historic?

By Brandon Johnson

Sunday, June 23, 2019 at 6:12 p.m.

Brandon Johnson This building has been an unofficial Colfax landmark since 1967, when it opened as a White Spot. 1/10

Brandon Johnson Tom Messina bought the building for $800,000 and turned it into Tom's Diner. 2/10

Brandon Johnson Tom Messina has been running it 24/7 for two decades. 3/10

Brandon Johnson Tom Messina put the property on the market last year. 4/10

Brandon Johnson A developer offered $4.8 million for the property, but not because of its classic decor. 5/10

Brandon Johnson The plan calls for replacing Tom's Diner with apartments. 6/10

Brandon Johnson But fans of Tom's Diner filed to have the building declared historic. 7/10

Brandon Johnson Denver's Landmark Preservation Commission says that the building could meet the criteria. 8/10

Brandon Johnson Patrons of Tom's Diner have certainly made history here. 9/10

Brandon Johnson Could Tom's Diner be history? Or is it historic? 10/10

Tom's Diner Has Made History 24/7 on Colfax...but Is It Historic?

In May, would-be developers of 601 East Colfax Avenue applied to have the property declared non-historic. On June 14, fans of Tom's Diner stepped in and filed an application with Denver's Landmark Preservation Commission to have the classic 1967 coffee shop designated a landmark. The issue now moves to a public hearing before the commission, then on to Denver City Council. If the landmark application is denied, Tom's Diner could be demolished in the next five years.

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