Larimer
Not Your Father’s Lo-Do…
When I was about in the 10- to 12-year-old range I remember driving down Larimer Street with my parents and my sister, just for something to do on a Saturday night.
The street was mystifying – bars – pawn & loan shops – junk stores – liquor stores – bordellos – but lots of bars and lots of transients. People back then did refer to Larimer as “skid row” a term which came out of the logging camps in the Northwest where wagons would drag cut lumber to the rivers where it was deposited for floating transport.
Steinbeck made reference to “skid row” in his novel “Cannery Row”. Because the logging camps were accompanied by some rough and tumble types and many temporary drinking establishments, “skid row” began to be associated with those environments.
“Skid Row” would become associated with the expression “on the skids” and then be extended to the down and out parts of large urban cities.
Larimer Street took on the moniker “LoDo” first in 1983 when it was thus crowned by a Denver Post writer describing the overhauled business stretch.
I am sure folks in Denver for the most part are very happy with LoDo but every upside has a downside – the Larimer Street skid rowers had to go somewhere …. Larimer street scenes back then were truly tragic stories.
A Trip Down Larimer Street
The “Skid Row” section of Larimer back in the day was about a four or five block stretch, from 1400 to about 1800. Beyond that we had many little mom and pop stores giving it their best to hang on and make a living. The 1400-1800 establishments seldom advertised in local newspapers – didn’t really need to.
1011 Larimer Street – Ziegler Fire Extinguisher Service (1960)
1133 Larimer Street – Father’s Mustache (1967)
1133 Larimer Street – Nick and Betty’s Grill (?)
1221 Larimer Street – Gene’s Grill (?)
1221 Larimer Street – Singer’s Grill (?)
1238 Larimer Street – J. Zerobnick & Son (1950)
1346 Larimer Street – The Daniel Company (1950)
14th & Larimer Street – The Rogue’s Room
14th and Larimer Street – Luby’s Chevrolet (1960)
1401 Larimer Street – Freddie’s Bar (?)
1401 Larimer Street – The Prairie Schooner (1967)
1404 Larimer Street – The Larimer (?)
1413 Larimer Street – United Glassware and China Co (1960)
1415 Larimer Street – Fred Mueller Inc. Mail Order (1950)
1425 Larimer Street – O’Neal’s Appliances (1950)
1425 Larimer Street – The Earl (Denver)
1426 Larimer Street – Colorado Fixture & Furniture Co. (1955)
1448 Larimer Street – Globe Furniture (1950)
1448 Larimer Street – New York Appliances (1955)
1451 Larimer Street – Furniture Mart (1950)
15th & Larimer Street – Denver Army Surplus Store (1950)
15th & Larimer Street – Rosen Furniture (1950)
15th & Larimer Street – Joe Alpert’s (1955)
15th and Larimer Street – Stanton’s (1960)
1512 Larimer Street – Zall’s Furniture (1950)
1512 Larimer Street – Fine Furniture Distributors (1960)
1515 Larimer Street – Papper’s Furniture (1950)
1519 Larimer Street – Lito’s Appliances (1950)
1525 Larimer Street – The Mid West Furniture Co. (1960)
1530 Larimer Street – Light Furniture Co. (1950)
1543 Larimer Street – Sachs-Lawlor (1950)
16th Street & Larimer Street – Watkin’s Furniture (1950)
16th and Larimer Street – Central Furniture (1955)
1608/1610 Larimer Street – Lou’s Loan Shop (1950)
1609 Larimer Street – Gold Nugget Grill (1941)
1616 Larimer Street – Kelly’s Surplus Sporting Goods (1950)
1617 Larimer Street- Citizen’s Mission (1950)
1623 Larimer Street – Gold Nugget Tavern (?)
1627 Larimer Street – Jimmie Jurgen’s Elite Liquors (1950)
1630 Larimer Street – Claude’s Watch Repairing Shop (1950)
1633 Larimer Street – Ginn Milll (1952)
1643 Larimer Street – Gart Brothers (1960)
1663 Larimer Street – Saliman’s Paradise (?)
17th and Larimer Street – The Gaiety Adult Entertainment (1950)
1705 Larimer Street – A.M. Hyman Jewelers and Clothing (1950)
1721 Larimer Street – Weaver Electric Company (1955)
1722 Larimer Street – The Bation Hotel (1949)
1745 Larimer Street – The Barclay Hotel (1949)
1763 Larimer Street – Casey’s Reno Inn (?)
1750 Larimer Street – N. Kraut Furniture (1950)
1754 Larimer Street – The Duff Hotel (1949)
1800 Larimer Street – The Windsor Hotel (1950)
1801 Larimer Street – Sloppy Joe’s Liquor (1950)
1814 Larimer Street – Tea Pot Inn (1942)
1818 Larimer Street – Denver Rescue Mission (1950)
1827 Larimer Street – Winsor Household Goods (1946)
1831 Larimer Street – Harold’s Hardware (1946-1955)
1836 Larimer Street – Yamamoto Barber Shop (1942)
1848 Larimer Street – The Bristol Hotel (1949)
1859 Larimer Street – Utah Loan Office Ltd. (1950)
1861 Larimer Street – The Roxburg Hotel (1949
1863 Larimer Street – Harry’s Corner (1967)
19th and Larimer Street – Saliman’s Grill (1950)
1906 Larimer Street – Izuo Studio (1950)
1916 Larimer Street – Union Hardware (1950)
1917 Larimer Street – Continental Tavern (?)
1920 Larimer Street – Clark Barber Shop (1950)
1926 Larimer Street – Duck Inn (1950)
1926 Larimer Street – Hunchie’s Tavern (?)
1927 Larimer Street – Ichiyo Cafe (1960)
1929 Larimer Street – Las Vegas Inn & Bar (?)
1930 Larimer Street – Mikawaya Fountain (1949)
1930 Larimer Street – George T. Fukuma Intermountain Agency (1960)
1936 Larimer Street – Yamakishi Studio (1950)
1942 Larimer Street – Nonaka Barber Shop (1955)
1943 Larimer Street – Dr. George J. Kubo Optometrist (1946)
1943 Larimer Street – The Miyako Hotel
1948 Larimer Street – Rocky Mountain Cleaners (1950)
1949 Larimer Street – New Mexico Inn (?)
1949 Larimer Street – New Rocket Inn (?)
1954 Larimer Street – Golden Moon Lounge (?)
1955 Larimer Street – Akebono Cafe (1965)
1962 Larimer Street – Western Fish Market (1946)
2000 Larimer Street – Liberty Liquors (1946)
2001 Larimer Street – Moritz Drug Co. (1946)
2006 Larimer Street – Service Cleaners (1946)
2009/11/23 Larimer Street – Libert Market & Libert Clothing (1950)
2010 Larimer Street – Harry T. Osumi Jewelers (1943)
2010 Larimer Street – National Display & Decorating Co (1956)
2015 Larimer Street – U.S. Hotel (1949)
2024 Larimer Street – Sunny’s Beauty Salon (1950)
2029 Larimer Street – Penny’s (1950)
2030 Larimer Street – Johnnie’s Market (1962)
2034 Larimer Street – The Bowery Inn
2042 Larimer Street – The Keystone Hotel (1949)
2046 Larimer Street – American Inn (?)
2048 Larimer Street – The New Wyoming Hotel (1949)
2058 Larimer Street – The Belmont Hotel (1949)
2063 Larimer Street – Dubin’s Bargain Store (Thanks Judy FB)
2106 Larimer Street – Littlejohn Music Studio (1950)
2100 Larimer Street – Juarez Tavern (?)
2119 Larimer Street – Republican Workers (1963)
2126 Larimer Street – Don’s Hardware & Auto (1955)
2137 Larimer Street – Soloman’s Grill (?)
2151 Larimer Street – SKY Bakery (1950)
2155 Larimer Street – Larimer Cleaner (1950)
2161 Larimer Street – Elsinore Hotel (1949)
2162 Larimer Street – El Gato Negro Tavern (?)
2162 Larimer Street – Tampico Bar and Lounge (?)
2204 Larimer Street – The Pacific Hotel (1949)
2205 Larimer Street – DOI Pharmacy (1946)
2205 Larimer Street – The Burlington Hotel (1949)
2210 Larimer Street – The Brown Derby Inn (?)
2219 Larimer Street – Solano’s Bar (?)
2219 Larimer Street – Willie & Nettie’s Place (?)
2226 1/2 Larimer Street – Olympic Hotel (1949)
2229 Larimer Street – Crawford’s Shine & Record Shop (1955)
2232 Larimer Street – Jin Yokoyama Carpenter (1949)
2246 Larimer Street – U.S. Pawn Shop
2300 Larimer Street -Walt East’s Super-Public Market (1940)
2305 Larimer Street – Pat’s Grill (?)
2305 Larimer Street – The Longhorn Saloon (?)
2363 Larimer Street – Sealy Mattress (1955)
2400 Larimer Street – Eston & Company
2430 Larimer Street – Chuck Stevens Produce (1950)
2550 Larimer Street – Robinson Dairy
26th and Larimer Street – Robinson’s Dairy (1960)
2621 Larimer Street – Crystal Grill (1940s)
2617 Larimer Street – A & A Rag Grading & Metal Co. (1955)
2625 Larimer Street – King Klean’s Food
2700 Larimer Street – T.K. Drug Co. (1946)
2721 Larimer Street – Sunshine Inn (?)
2737 Larimer Street – Warehouse for Sale (1958)
2737 Larimer Street – A & A Rag Grading and Metal Co (1960)
2760 Larimer Street – Sacred Heart Church
2827 Larimer Street – Ideal Roofing Co (1960)
2863 Larimer Street – Bennie’s Inn (?)
3000 Larimer Street – Venetian Blind & Drapery Co (1952)
3111 Larimer Street – Duffy’s Pop Storage Warehouse
PopBopRocktilUDrop 
June 4, 2024 at 10:49 pm
Most of the musicians of “my generation” (born 1945-1954) spent lots of time on Larimer St in the early and mid-’60s cruising the pawnshops for vintage guitars, basses, drums etc. The top pawn shop for rock musicians around 1966 was “GI Joe’s” – somewhere between 14th & 15th (guessing) on Larimer St. Run by an older man named “Max” – it was a treasure trove of used Fender and Gibson electric guitars. We must have gone to GI Joe’s at least 2-3 times/week looking for deals on vintage instruments and amps. We’d walk in and go “Hi Max! … Got any good guitars today?” Max’s standard reply was to give you a chastening look and say: “They’re ALL good!!”
Bobby Rosen (a drummer in his youth) initially worked for Max, then opened his own music / pawn business down the street (maybe 16-1700 block of Larimer) called “Bobby’s.” Bobby did so well he eventually moved to 1025 Broadway as Bobby’s Music Center around 1025 Broadway. Another man who worked for Bobby on Larimer was Dave Barocas, who eventually opened “Colfax Music” on east Colfax, along with his son, John. So in a way, “skid row” on Larimer was where most of Denver’s young rock musicians (self included) bought most of our guitars / amps / drums /instruments, at least until Bobby Rosen and David Barocas opened their own respective music stores on Broadway and E Colfax.
I guess I’m just mentioning that for a whole generation of local rock musicians, around 1962 – 1969 Larimer Street, between 14th and 18th st was a mecca for all of us in search of vintage guitars. Almost every good pop/rock local musician spent lots of time over the years crawling through the Larimer St. pawnshops looking for vintage rock instruments.
June 5, 2024 at 11:52 am
What a great story and tie-in to the main theme of my site. Thanks for sharing this! I may have this but what were the names/name of any band you may have played in so I can make sure it is on my site “garage band” pages.
June 5, 2024 at 1:45 am
I was one of Bob Pelligino’s Friends at the Longhorn on Larimer Street in 1987 or so. And, my grandma worked at the Hinky Dink in 30’s and 40’s from what I know! Wild area!
June 5, 2024 at 3:14 pm
I grew up in southwest Denver in the 1950s/1960S. As teens we were eager to shop at the new Larimer Square, around 1967-68, but my mother would always warn us: “Stay away from those Larimer Street bums!” Years later, the Associated Press moved its bureau to 1444 Wazee, and I took a job there in 1982. I wrote a tongue-in-cheek country song about the gentrification in that area. The chorus went: “Wazee Street used to be one fine flop/ Now it’s crawlin’ with cream-of-the-crop/ It’s yuppie, and tony, and just flat-out phony/ For a bum there’s no room at the top.”
June 5, 2024 at 9:35 pm
Great lyrics!
June 6, 2024 at 3:35 am
I started driving in late 1979. The first places I hit were GI Joe’s pawn shop between 21st and 22nd, Al’s Pawn and Luggage between 22nd and 23rd, Pasternak’s between 19th and 20th, and another music store on 20th and Larimer. I almost bought a Peavey bass amp for my guitar at this place. The clown salesman was so high pressure that I walked out. This was around 1982; I ended up buying a Peavey Bandit amp at the music store that used to be on south University near the U-Hills mall that eventually turned into the Musician’s Superstore. The place at 20th and Larimer is now a rehearsal studio that is rented out by the room to bands, etc. GI Joe’s and Al’s Pawn are long gone. I believe there is an EZ-Pawn at 22nd now and Al’s Pawn has also evolved into some other corporate pawn shop. Fast Cash?
I bought my highly coveted 1976 Marshall, 100-watt, 2 X 12 combo at GI Joe’s about 30 years ago. It is still going strong and strips paint off of walls when cranked. As it should be.
By the time I was going to pawn shops, Bobby’s was already at 10th and Broadway across from the Sport’s Castle. They then moved a few blocks down for several years before the dubious fire that put them out of business.
Howdy Craig, I’m back. Hopefully Country Paul is still with us. Howdy Paul!!!
Cheers, MC Malthus.
June 6, 2024 at 11:54 am
To happy to hear from you! It has been a long time since I heard from Paul Payton – I have made many attempts to contact him. He had cancer and his situation was very dire, but he kept up his spirits so well at least on the exterior. I always hope I open my site up one morning and that I will find a note from him.