When the COVID-19 shutdown hit in March, fears of permanent small business closures in Summit County abounded. However, in Silverthorne and Dillon, more businesses have opened than closed since March of last year.
In Silverthorne, 28 new businesses have opened since March 1, 2020, and 13 have closed, according to town records. The lists of opened and closed businesses are based on the number of business licenses the town has issued and the number of business license accounts it has closed. Of the new businesses, there were several brick-and-mortar stores, including Just Send It, a packing and shipping store, Windy City Pizza, and Gore Range Sports.
Flames flare from a grill June 15, 2019, during the 26th annual Colorado BBQ Challenge on Main Street in Frisco. Officials will be taking a close look at the BBQ Challenge as they evaluate what events best fit the town s vision moving forward.
Photo by Hugh Carey / Summit Daily archives
The Frisco Town Council held a high-level conversation about how to approach events moving forward, hoping to take advantage of the year-plus drought of gatherings to ensure the town’s festivals, concerts and contests are meeting the town’s goals.
Frisco officials broached the topic during a lengthy work session discussion Tuesday, Feb. 23. While no decisions were made with regard to what events will stay and what might go, the conversation did provide insights into how the Town Council and staff evaluate events.
Photo by Hugh Carey / Summit Daily archives
For any young business, encountering difficulties in the first few years isn’t unexpected, but the owners of 10 Mile Music Hall feel their situation is unprecedented.
“Soon, we will have been shut down longer than we’ve been open as a business,” co-owner Todd Altschuler said. “We’re not owned by a conglomerate. We’re in a super high-rent area. It’s a tough situation to be in, even among the other shuttered venues.”
The concert venue, which opened in late 2018, was forced to close its doors along with most of the community in March 2020 as the novel coronavirus swept across the world and local health departments worked to stymie the spread. Since then, the venue has continued to be on the hook for fixed costs and unable to refund tickets for most of its canceled shows.
A slushy day is seen on Main Street in Frisco on Nov. 20., 2019. Frisco officials have decided to expand and extend the town’s financial assistance programs through the end of March.
Photo by Liz Copan / Summit Daily Archives
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect that council member Dan Fallon voted against the resolution.
Frisco businesses will get another chance to apply for grant money from the town over the coming weeks.
The Frisco Town Council voted to extend and expand the town’s economic relief programs during a regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 9, allowing new businesses, and those that missed the last deadline, to apply for some financial assistance. Dan Fallon was the only council member to vote against the resolution.
Photo by Sawyer D Argonne / sdargonne@summitdaily.com
Despite a blanket of snow draped over Frisco’s parks, many community members are still trying to make the most of the amenities, spreading out on the frozen lawns to let their dogs run or making their way to a pond to skate.
But the town is continuing to invest in park improvements in hopes of providing an even better experience this summer as the myriad residents and visitors again make their way outside to sprawl out in the grass and climb on the playgrounds. This year, Frisco’s focus is on Meadow Creek Park.