Overview:
Despite the development, neighborhood residents and business owners maintain that being local is the key to success on Tennyson Street.
“I’m trying to think of other streets that are like that in the city, and I can’t really think of any,” said restaurateur Michael Swift about Denver’s historic Tennyson Street.
A new culinary experience is on the horizon for the neighborhood as owner Swift and chef Joe Bracero intend to open a second location of their highly regarded Bao Brewhouse in the center of the neighborhood at 3973 Tennyson Street this summer. Swift affectionately describes the area as a uniquely business-centered neighborhood that provides a walkable and communal feel to its residents.
“It’s a great walking street,” Swift said. “Since I’ve been living in Denver, it seems like it changed a lot. There’s a lot of cool places that are there and new places that are coming in.”
Their location will be close neighbors with High Point Creamery, an upscale ice cream shop, and the Salty Donut, which is a more recent addition from late 2024 serving coffee and, of course, donuts. Assistant Manager Silas Obrecht has been with the Salty Donut since its grand opening and enjoys working on Tennyson Street.
“I really like that it’s community-based,” Obrecht said. “There’s events that happen during the sunny months, like festivals, and there are a lot of local businesses along the street as well.”
Since 2014, Jay Bombalicki and the Tennyson Berkeley Business Association (TBBA) have been spearheading the Explore Tennyson Group, which organizes a number of local events, including First Friday Cultural Walks and the Tennyson Street Fair. Upcoming events include First Friday celebrations on May 2, June 6, and July 4, which will feature vendors, food trucks and free concerts at Cesar Chavez Park.
“There are a lot of young families in the area,” Obrecht said. “And that stuff is fun for them.”
TBBA is the cornerstone of the Tennyson and Berkeley area. The events they host allow the street to retain its character as an area with a high concentration of small businesses.
Another factor that adds to the area’s charm is its walkability, which has also allowed Tennyson merchants to bring in late-night foot traffic from locally owned bars and restaurants that are popping up. Many businesses are eagerly preparing for the uptick in summer pedestrian flow, including the Funky Buddha, a highly recommended Asian fusion restaurant and bar.
Since its opening in late November 2024, the Funky Buddha has been a welcome addition to the Explore Tennyson map. Pemba Sherpa and Bhagya Gurung, the owners, are thrilled to unveil its new patio just in time for Tennyson’s upcoming summer. With the expansion in seating, more people will be able to experience their creative blend of Nepali cuisine and other popular dishes and drinks.
“We don’t have just the Indian, Tibetan, or Nepalese food. We have bits and pieces from China, Korea [and] Malaysia,” Gurung said. “We congregate all of that. Its drink menu also highlights distinct twists on otherwise standard cocktails, such as their refreshing take on the mojito that incorporates Thai rum.
Similar to the Funky Buddha, Bao Brewhouse hopes to offer a distinct set of flavors that they hope will increase traffic to Tennyson Street. “We’re trying our best to figure out the best way to provide our brand there,” Swift said. He and executive chef Bracero are currently working on menu options such as new versions of the popular roujiamos and different-sized dumplings.
“We’re really going to lean into that street food element,” Swift said. “The whole buildout of the place is supposed to feel like you’re in the streets of a city in Asia … like sensory overload.”
The dedicated Tennyson community has been a saving grace helping well established local gems stay afloat in challenging economic times. Wendell’s, a Tennyson breakfast diner on the verge of eviction, has now garnered enough support to stave off its demise, thanks to a compassionate community of small business advocates. An active GoFundMe has been the saving grace for Wendell’s fight to keep its doors open, allowing them to inch closer to their $30,000 goal.
“We tend to help each other out on this street,” said Kat Barber, the head of operations for Inspyre Boutique. Barber says that their winning business model is preserving a personable approach to welcoming in customers. “We treat our customers like friends,” Barber explained. “We try to keep our clothes under $100.”
The local residents take full advantage of the Explore Tennyson maps, and each TBBA Board member is a fellow Tennyson business owner. Whether selling or living on the street, everyone plays a role.
And a lot more people are moving into newly constructed buildings. There are 34 apartments being constructed at 4353 Tennyson where three historic houses once stood. Several apartment complexes, 41 Tenn, The Irwin, Akin Tennyson, as well as a 90 unit property on 46th and Tennyson where the old Local 46 used to be, are bringing hundreds of units that are renting from under $2000 to over $4000 a month.
They feature rooftop decks and all are required to have ground floor retail although leasing agents told Bucket List they do not have any contracts yet for tenants and when they do businesses will have to build out their own spaces.
Open leasing agreements have changed the demand among the unique lineup of business owners and independent artisans. Obrecht explained the difficulties that chains, such as the Miami-based Salty Donut, have in the landscape of locally owned businesses.
“For success on this block, I think the biggest thing is being local,” Obrecht said. “A lot of families come in here and they ask if we’re local, and then they leave.”
Investment on the block stays close to its roots, and outliers can often crumble under the pressure of competing against community-based enterprises. The community in Tennyson has thrived by binding loyalties on their historic block.
“We recommend restaurants and restaurants may recommend us,” Barber explained. “It’s very much a quid pro quo, giving and taking here.”
